(Alliance News) - European stock markets are expected to rise slightly on Tuesday after a negative start to the week, with the FTSE100 managing to buck the bearish trend thanks to a rebound in the energy sector and a strong performance in telecommunications.
"A rebound in oil and gas prices due to lingering uncertainty in the Red Sea and Suez Canal resulting from attacks on shipping by Yemen's Houthi rebels has the potential to exert upward pressure on inflation and, in doing so, act as a price shock in global supply chains if maintained," commented Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets.
"However," the analyst points out, "we are not there yet, especially since oil prices are still near five-month lows and rumors of a gasoline price hike ahead of Christmas are rather alarmist at this early stage.
The FTSE Mib, therefore, is expected to rise 62.5 points or 0.2 percent after closing 0.4 percent in the red at 30,241.02, according to IG futures.
In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is given fractional green, Paris' CAC 40 is expected to open up 17.3 points or 0.2 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 advances 32.8 points or 0.2 percent.
In overnight news, it is reported that the Bank of Japan maintained its ultra-loose monetary policy and gave no indication of plans for the new year. After a two-day meeting, the bank said Tuesday, "With extremely high uncertainties surrounding economies and financial markets at home and abroad, the Bank will patiently continue with monetary easing."
Among Italy's smaller listings last night, the Mid-Cap gave up 1.0 percent to 43,420.96, the Small-Cap lost 0.9 percent to 26,884.92, and Italy Growth closed in the green by 0.2 percent.
On the Mib, Iliad's new bid for Vodafone Italia officially opened the long-awaited consolidation of tlc in Italy and caught TIM in the middle of the network merger. The French valued the British operator at EUR10.45 billion, and stocks soared. Telecom Italia thus closed up 4.5 percent.
Other bullish few included UniCredit, Eni, Tenaris and Banco BPM, all in the green between 1.8% and 0.9%.
Leonardo -- in the red by 1.5 percent -- announced Monday that Southwest Airlines, among the largest airlines in the U.S. with about 127 million passengers carried annually, has chosen its to redefine the transit area baggage handling system at Denver International Airport.
The contract, worth more than EUR25 million, includes a custom-developed solution for Southwest to better manage operational, manual baggage handling and transfer activities.
DiaSorin gave up 1.9% after opening down 5.0%. Of note, Jefferies cut its target price to EUR98.00 from EUR102.00. One share is now worth EUR90.08.
In the new business plan announced on Friday, the company expects, at constant exchange rates, revenues to grow by 5% in 2024 and 7% compared to the pre-pandemic period. During Covid, the statement said, revenues had been around EUR30 million. In the three-year period to 2027, the company expects single-digit CAGR growth.
Adjusted Ebitda margin to 2024 is expected to grow 32%-33% and to 2027 to grow 36%-37%.
The drivers of growth, the company writes, will be immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, licensed technologies, and the progression of deleverage that will enable "funding of new growth opportunities.
At the bottom was Ferrari, in the red by 3.4 percent.
Of note was the debut of Brunello Cucinelli on the Mib, with the stock down 1.1% as at the start. The stock takes the place of CNH Industrial, which will remain listed only in New York.
On the Mid-Cap, Industrie De Nora -- up 1.6 percent -- and H2U Technologies, a developer of next-generation electrolyzers, announced Monday a research agreement to identify and develop low-cost, high-performance electro-catalysts for the production of hydrogen by water electrolysis.
Fincantieri finished 1.3 percent in the red. It reported Friday that Vard--Norwegian subsidiary--has signed an agreement with an international customer to build a cable-laying ship. Delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The value of the contract is between EUR200 and EUR250 million.
The Piaggio group -- in the red by 0.7 percent -- on Friday presented its "Decarbonization Plan," in which it pledges to implement concrete actions to contribute to the achievement of climate goals set by the European Union.
In continuity with the path taken so far, the Piaggio group's plan, developed with advice from the European Investment Bank, in line with the EIB PATH framework and the support of the consulting firm EY - contracted by the EIB - will allow the group to articulate actions to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions over two time horizons: 2030 and 2050.
Among small-cap companies, Antares Vision closed up 6.6 percent and doing best of all. On Monday, the company announced that it had appointed Jeremy Coote as the new chief executive officer of its subsidiary rfxcel.
Coote will replace resigning Glenn Abood, who holds 668,198 shares in Antares Vision. Coote joined ACSIS in 2010 as a board member and was appointed CEO in 2014. He has been a proponent of ACSIS' leadership in supply-chain ecosystem software. He has more than 25 years of experience as a recognized leader in ERP and supply-chain software; previously, he was president of SAP North America.
In addition, the company also appointed Stephanie Sebile as rfxcel's new chief administrative officer and treasurer.
algoWatt surrendered 1.1 percent after reporting that the board of directors analyzed the possible impacts on the group's operations due to the heightened state of financial strain as a direct result of a decision taken by a financial creditor to temporarily suspend the company's invoice advance line of credit.
This temporary suspension, motivated by the need to determine the company's creditworthiness as a result of the filing of the negotiated settlement procedure, could have an impact on the regularity of payroll payments to employees.
Digital Bros advanced 2.2 percent while Mondo TV closed 1.2 percent in the red. The company reported Monday that its subsidiary Mondo TV France--in the red by 4.0 percent on Italy Growth--announced the closing of a major agreement with Giochi Preziosi, Europe's leading toy manufacturer and distributor.
The contract, with a duration of three years until December 31, 2026, includes the development and distribution of the toy line in Italy and the right of first option to extend the license worldwide, in the markets where the series will be distributed.
Among SMEs, Radici Pietro Industries & Brands closed in the green by 3.6 percent after reporting Monday that it will close 2023 with revenues of EUR56 million, according to preliminary estimates reviewed by the board.
The figure is lower than the previously expected EUR59.7 million but is 4.6 percent higher than the 2022 figure.
ICF Group ended the day up 11 percent followed by Eprcomunication, in the green by 10 percent.
In Asia, the Nikkei closed in the green by 1.3 percent at 33,219.39, the Shanghai Composite finished just above par at 2,932.39, and the Hang Seng was in the red by 0.9 percent at 16,480.00.
In New York on European night, the Dow closed in fractional green at 37,306.02, the Nasdaq finished up 0.6 percent at 14,905.19 and the S&P 500 closed ahead 0.5 percent at 4,740.56.
Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0933 against USD1.0920 recorded in Monday's European stock close while the pound was worth USD1.2670 from USD1.2643 on Monday evening.
Brent crude is worth USD77.97 per barrel versus USD78.45 per barrel at Monday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD2,024.59 an ounce from USD2,023.93 an ounce on Monday evening.
Tuesday's macroeconomic calendar includes, at 1000 CET, the Eurozone consumer price index.
At 1430 CET, from the U.S., building permits and new residential construction will come out.
At the same time, from Canada, will come the annual CPI, raw material price index and industrial goods price index.
At Piazza Affari, Sesa's half-year results are expected.
By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter
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