(Alliance News) - Major European stock exchanges are expected to open higher Friday morning, as opposed to the U.S. and Asian exchanges, which closed in negative territory.

Also overnight from Japan came the November inflation figure, the highest on record since 1981. Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile fresh food costs, rose 3.7 percent last month from a year earlier, according to data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The FTSE Mib, therefore, is expected up 50.0 points or 0.2 percent after closing down 1.2 percent at 23,813.30.

London's FTSE 100 is expected up 18.2 points or 0.2 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is expected to open in the green by 10.9 points or 0.2 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is expected up 50.5 points or 0.4 percent.

Last night, the Mid-Cap lost 0.4 percent to 39,364.54, the Small-Cap gave up 0.4 percent to 27,592.47, and Italy Growth finished negative 0.6 percent to 9,176.28.

On the Mib, only Saipem and Buzzi Unicem were saved, up 0.7 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.

Eni closed in the red by 0.6 percent after it informed that it signed a contract with Wison Heavy Industry for the construction and installation of a floating liquefied natural gas production unit with a capacity of 2.4 million tons per year. The FLNG will be positioned offshore the Republic of Congo.

Italgas ended in negative territory, down 0.5 percent, after announcing that, consistent with its 2022-2028 strategic plan, it has finalized a transaction to sell a 10 percent stake in Italgas Newco.

Italgas Newco is the group holding company that controls Depa Infrastructure, a company active in gas distribution in Greece, and buying is Phaeton SA, a holding company of the Greek industrial group Copelouzos.

Azimut Holding dropped 0.9 percent after signing a strategic partnership, through its Turkish subsidiary Azimut Portföy Yönetimi, with Lycian Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on the mid-market based in Istanbul.

On the mid-cap, Maire Tecnimont rallied 1.1 percent after announcing Thursday that its subsidiaries Tecnimont, KT-Kinetics Technology and Stamicarbon were awarded several new contracts for licensing, engineering services and engineering and procurement activities as well as engineering, procurement and construction, with a total value of about USD280 million.

Yesterday, it also announced that its subsidiary Tecnimont was awarded an EPC contract with a total value of about USD1.3 billion and covers the construction of a petrochemical plant and associated utilities and infrastructure.

Webuild dropped 1.8 percent after reaching an agreement with Clough Limited administrators to extend the current exclusivity period until Jan. 25, 2023, "given the significant progress on the current transaction."

Yesterday, it also announced that it had reached financial closure for the contract to build the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport Metro Line project, the metro line that will connect the new Western Sydney International Airport with Sydney, as part of the Parklife Metro consortium.

Webuild's share is approximately AUD3.83 billion, about EUR2.4 billion.

Salcef Group is up 0.4 percent. The company mandated Banca Akros to coordinate and/or execute the share buyback program, the initiation of which had already been approved by the board of directors on November 14, 2022.

Specifically, the program provides for the purchase of a maximum of 300,000 shares with a countervalue not exceeding EUR7.7 million. Furthermore, the shares held by the company and its subsidiaries at any time must not exceed a total of 10 percent of the share capital.

De' Longhi closed unchanged, on the day it announced that the board approved the appointment of Nicola Serafin as general manager, reporting directly to CEO Fabio de' Longhi, thus completing the search process for a candidate for the role of CEO.

In the new position, which will take effect on January 1, 2023, Nicola Serafin will have the powers of ordinary administration for the management of the Group.

Among small-cap companies, LVenture Group closed in the green by 10 percent after signing with WDA - Web Digital Advisor, Venture Builder, a partnership to launch joint innovation programs aimed at large companies that may also include LVenture Group's entry into WDA's capital.

Banca Finnat also reduced LVenture Group's trarget price but confirmed its 'buy' recommendation on the venture capital holding company's stock.

The target price was reduced to EUR0.43 from EUR0.50, according to research by Gian Franco Traverso Guicciardi, Tatjana Eifrig and Stefania Vergati.

FNM gave up 1.1 percent. The company announced that its subsidiary FerrovieNord and Regione Lombardia, FNM's controlling shareholder, had signed on Wednesday the contractual text regarding the renewal of the service contract, due to expire on Dec. 31, 2022, for the period Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2027.

Somec gained 0.9 percent. The company disclosed Tuesday that it has signed a binding preliminary agreement to acquire 60 percent of the share capital of Gino Ceolin, a company specializing in the creation of custom-made metalwork for exteriors and interiors aimed particularly at the retail, hospitality and high-end residential sectors.

On the alternative capital market of Piazza Affari, Circle rises 0.8 percent after announcing to the market the acquisition of 51 percent of the share capital of Cargo Start, a start-up company active in the development and sale of technological products and services for operators in the air cargo supply chain.

The agreement signed on Dec. 21, 2022, stipulates that, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, Circle will complete an investment transaction in Cargo Start for a total amount of EUR500,000 through the subscription of a paid capital increase, reserved for it, for a nominal EUR20,850 and with a premium of EUR479,150.

In New York overnight Europe, the Dow closed down 1.1 percent, the Nasdaq gave up 2.2 percent and the S&P 500 lost 1.5 percent.

In Asia, the Nikkei 225 gave up 1.0 percent, the Shanghai Composite lost 0.3 percent and the Hang Seng was in the red by 0.4 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0620 versus USD1.0599 at Thursday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2058 from USD1.2019 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD81.63 per barrel from USD81.40 per barrel on Wednesday night. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,797.60 an ounce from USD1,804.05 an ounce on Thursday evening.

Friday's macro calendar includes, at 0900 CET, Spain's annual and quarterly GDP data.

At 1000 CET, Italy's business and consumer confidence levels for December will be released.

In the afternoon, overseas, at 1430 CET, the PCE index-the Fed's main indicator for measuring inflation-, personal income data and durable goods orders are expected.

At the same time, Canada will release GDP data.

Among companies listed on the Stock Exchange, no particular events are expected.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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