(Alliance News) - The Mib advanced on Friday, fluctuating around 43,600 points - a three-week high - and moving broadly in line with other European markets, positioning itself for a second consecutive weekly gain.
Investor sentiment remained buoyant on expectations that the Federal Reserve may make a further rate cut next week.
On the domestic front, the Italian economy is expected to grow by 0.5% in 2025 and 0.8% in 2026, after rising 0.7% in 2024, according to the latest forecasts released by Istat on Friday. Growth in the two-year forecast period would be driven entirely by domestic demand, while the contribution of net foreign demand would remain negative.
The Mib thus advances by 0.1% to 43,630.09 points.
The CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.3%, the DAX 40 in Frankfurt rose 0.6%, and the FTSE 100 in London advanced 0.2%.
Among the minor indices, the Mid-Cap rose 0.9% to 58,933.79 points, the Small-Cap rose 0.7% to 36,177.02, and the Italy Growth gained 0.1% to 8,506.73 points.
On the Milan Stock Exchange, DiaSorin rose 2.6% to EUR61.6 per share after four sessions of decline.
Nexi advanced 1.9% after falling 0.2% the previous day.
Stellantis also had a good session, aiming for its third bullish session, up 1.8%.
Prysmian also performed well, rising 1.2% to EUR 85.86 per share, following a 2.3% gain in the previous session.
Leonardo, down 0.6%, announced on Friday that it had signed a multi-year contract with the Italian Air Force's National Armaments Directorate for logistical support for the C-27J "Spartan" tactical transport aircraft fleet and for the full-motion simulator at the International Training Center in Pisa. The agreement will come into force in 2026 and will run until 2028.
Eni, on the other hand, fell 1.9%, after a fractional decline the day before, with a price of around EUR16.04 per share.
In the mid-cap sector, Fincantieri is up 3.9% to EUR 17.77 per share, following a 3.6% rise the previous day.
Technogym advanced 3.4% to EUR 16.45. It should be noted that during trading, the stock updated its new 52-week high to EUR 16.55 per share.
Avio, up 2.5%, announced on Friday that, following the recent European Space Agency Ministerial 2025, the overall European space budget has been increased by 30% compared to the previous three-year period, reaching EUR22.1 billion, the highest level in the Agency's history. Italy confirms its central role, with commitments of approximately EUR 3.5 billion, equal to about 16% of the total allocated by member states. Thanks to this increase in resources, Avio expects to win new contracts worth over EUR 600 million in the period 2026-2027, with execution expected by 2028-2029.
Iren, on the other hand, is down 0.7%, heading for its fifth consecutive bearish session.
On the Small-Cap index, Piquadro is up 3.0% to EUR2.37 per share, after a flat session yesterday.
Trevi Finanziaria is also performing well, up 7.1% to EUR0.62 per share, taking the top spot on the list.
BasicNet, up 2.6%, announced on Thursday that it had reached an agreement to acquire the Sundek brand along with 100% of Kickoff Spa, the current owner and manager of the brand, controlled by Winnie Srl. The initial consideration for the transaction amounts to approximately EUR10 million.
Bestbe Holding - flat with a last price of EUR0.058 - announced the resignation of its entire board of directors following the resignations of directors Angelo Paletta and Emanuela Cipollari on November 21 and Carlo Casilli on November 26, who also left his operational duties. To ensure continuity, director Rosario Caiazzo has been appointed interim chairman and CEO.
Caltagirone Editore, on the other hand, fell 1.8%, its fifth consecutive session of decline.
Among SMEs, Eprcomunicazione advanced 6.6%, following a 4.6% gain the previous day.
Bellini Nautica rose 5.1%, placing itself among the top performers on the list.
Espe, up 1.3%, announced on Thursday that it had signed a joint venture agreement with Esco Agroenergetica Srl through the establishment of the new company HelioGea Energy Srl, aimed at developing small-scale agrivoltaic solutions specifically for farms with less than 3,000 square meters of available land.
Estrima, on the other hand, fell 5.1%, following a 3.7% decline in the previous session.
In New York last night, the Dow lost 0.1%, the Nasdaq gained 0.2%, while the S&P 500 ended up 0.1%.
On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD 1.1648 from USD 1.1656 at Thursday's stock market close, while the pound is trading at USD 1.3336 from USD 1.3351 last night.
Among commodities, Brent crude traded at USD63.19 per barrel from USD63.54 per barrel at last night's close, while gold was worth USD4,223.97 per ounce from USD4,213.96 per ounce last night.
On Friday's economic calendar, in the afternoon, starting at 1600 CET, the spotlight will be on the US with the consumer spending price index and, from 2130 CET, on net speculative positions on commodities.
By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News Reporter
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