(Alliance News) - European stock markets closed in a bullish trend on Friday, with only Piazza Affari on the losing side, driven by corporate half-yearly reports and the good performance of Wall Street. Traders had their eyes on U.S. labor market data, closely monitored by the Fed for what will be the next monetary policy moves.
The U.S. economy created 187,000 jobs in July, less than expectations that had put 200,000 new hires on target. However, the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent from 3.6 percent in June.
On the domestic front, Istat let it be known Friday that it estimates, for Italy, industrial production rose in June from the previous month, albeit at a slower pace. Annually, June's industrial production is estimated to have declined slightly and improved on estimates. In detail, the seasonally adjusted index of industrial production in June is estimated to increase 0.5 percent from May, slowing from the figure -- revised upward by 0.1 percentage point -- of 1.7 percent in May. FXstreet estimated a decline of 0.3%.
As a result, the FTSE Mib closed 0.4 percent in the red at 28,586.37, the Mid-Cap gave up 0.1 percent to 42,162.68, the Small-Cap rose 0.6 percent to 27,014.13, and Italy Growth contracted 0.4 percent to 8,912.05.
Paris' CAC 40 closed in the green by 0.6 percent, Frankfurt's DAX 40 rose with 0.3 percent and London's FTSE 100 was just above par.
On the Mib, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena closed up 2.8 percent after reviewing its results as of June 30 on Thursday evening reporting a group profit before tax of EUR615 million, up from the pre-tax profit of EUR44 million reported in the corresponding period of 2022. Net interest income increased to EUR1.08 billion from EUR658.5 million in the first half of 2022.
Leonardo advanced 2.9 percent closing at EUR12.91. The stock touched a 52-week high of EUR13.02 during the day.
FinecoBank - up 0.7 percent - reported Friday that net inflows in July were confirmed at EUR486 million, in line with estimates announced in its first-half results. Since the beginning of the year, inflows amount to EUR5.7 billion.
Banca Mediolanum -- up 0.1 percent -- reported Friday that it reported trading results of EUR773 million in July, of which total net inflows amounted to EUR478 million, corresponding to EUR5.2 billion since the beginning of the year. Net inflows in assets under management amounted to EUR176 million, corresponding to EUR2.3 billion since the beginning of the year.
Interpump, on the other hand, gave up 4.7 percent. The board of directors approved the half-year financial report as of June 30, which closed with consolidated net income for the period rose from EUR139.5 million to EUR168.5 million, up 21 percent. Net sales for the first half of 2023 were EUR1.18 billion, up 15 percent from EUR1.02 billion in the corresponding period last year.
DiaSorin, on the other hand, gave up 2.7 percent, following the eve's green with 0.1 percent.
On the cadet segment, Banca Ifis rose with 4.6 percent. On Thursday the board of directors approved results for the first half of the year, Net income attributable to the group amounted to EUR91.0 million, up 26 percent from EUR72.5 million in the first half of 2022.
Industrie de Nora also did well, closing up 4.5 percent, after a 0.3 percent loss on the eve.
Sanlorenzo was equally positioned on the high quarters with 3.6 percent, after announcing Thursday that it achieved a group net income of EUR39.0 million in the first half of the year, up 20 percent from EUR32.5 million in the first half of 2022.
illimity Bank- in the black by 0.5 percent-announced Friday morning that it had approved results for the first half of the year in which it posted a net profit up 66 percent to EUR52.2 million from EUR31.5 million in the same period last year. Net interest income stood at EUR97.7 million as of June 30 from EUR74.1 million and up 32 percent from 2022.
Among the few bearish performers, Intercos left 8.5 percent on the parterre. The stock traded at a high volume of over 183,000 pieces compared to a three-month daily average of 43,100.
On the Small-Cap, SoftLab closed up 6.7 percent after a 2.4 percent decline on the eve of trading.
The Italian Sea Group, on the other hand, advanced 5.1 percent, in its third session on the bullish side.
TXT e-solutions--which advanced 1.0%--reported on Thursday that it had almost doubled net income in the first half year-on-year to EUR6.8 million from EUR3.5 million in the same period a year earlier.
Banca Profilo -- in the green with 1.0 percent -- reported record results above its business plan targets and ended the six-month period with a net profit of EUR9.6 million, up 42 percent from EUR in the first half of 2022. Total customer deposits for the period stood at EUR5.8 million from EUR5.5 million as of June 30, 2022. Direct deposits amounted to EUR1.11 billion from EUR1.10 billion in the same period in 2022. Total net revenue as of June 30 was EUR41.0 million, up 17 percent from EUR35.1 million a year earlier.
FILA -- in the green with 1.2 percent -- reported Thursday that in the first half of the year it posted a net income for the period of EUR21.2 million, down from EUR24.9 million in the same period a year earlier. Total revenues amounted to EUR420.5 million up from EUR396.8 million in the same period last year.
Zucchi, on the other hand, gives up 1.7 percent to EUR2.35 after two sessions closed in the black.
Among SMEs, Gismondi 1754 closed ahead 7.7 percent, after two sessions closed in the red.
Energy closed up 7.3%, marking a bullish hat trick.
Innovatec gave up 6.4 percent after reporting Thursday that first-half revenues fell to EUR95.5 million from EUR163.0 million year-on-year.
Rear-ends also for Estrima, which posted minus 5.5 percent in its third bearish session.
In New York on Thursday, the Dow Jones trades in the green by 0.6 percent as does the S&P, while the Nasdaq is trading bullish with 0.9 percent.
Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.1038 versus USD1.0947 in Thursday's European stock close while the pound is instead worth USD1.2781 from USD1.2717 on Thursday evening.
Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD86.29 per barrel versus USD84.89 per barrel at Thursday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,943.43 an ounce from USD1,935.41 an ounce on Thursday evening.
On Monday's economic calendar, UK house price data are due at 0800 CEST, along with German industrial production numbers.
At 1030 CEST, room for the Sentix index on Eurozone investor confidence.
On the corporate calendar, results from AbitareIn and Credito Emiliano are expected.
By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter
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