(Alliance News) - Major European stock markets remain below parity at mid-day on Thursday, just hours after the ECB will announce its decision on benchmark rate hikes today and after Eurostat announced that Eurozone producer prices fell at a faster pace than the previous month in March.

Eurozone producer prices fell 1.6 percent on a monthly basis in March after falling 0.4 percent in February.

Growth slowed markedly on a year-on-year basis.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is down 0.8 to 26,621.00

Among Italy's smaller listings, the Mid-Cap is down 0.6 percent to 42,792.43, the Small-Cap is down 0.9 percent to 28,484.22, and Italy Growth is down 0.1 percent to 9,152.55.

In Europe, the CAC 40 in Paris is in the red by 0.7 percent, the FTSE 100 retreats with 0.6 percent as does the DAX 40 in Frankfurt.

On the main list of Piazza Affari, a few are saved and among them are Saipem and Eni, in the green by 0.8 percent and 0.6 percent, along with Prysmian and ERG, in the green by 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent while Tenaris is up by 0.1 percent.

Assicurazioni Generali retreats 0.3% after reporting Thursday that it has reached an agreement with Frankfurter Leben to sell Generali Deutschland Pensionskasse AG, known by the acronym GDPK.

Poste Italiane continues to move in the bearish area and gives up 0.5% despite its quarterly results as of March 31, 2023, which were in line with guidance for the year. Profit is EUR540 million from EUR494 million in the same period last year, up 9.4 percent

Revenues amounted to EUR3.0 billion from EUR2.8 billion, up 8.1 percent.

Leonardo's board of directors -- which fared worse and lost 5.0% -- on Wednesday reviewed and approved first-quarter results, which closed with net income of EUR54 million from EUR56 in the comparable period.

Revenues were EUR3.03 billion and were in line with the first quarter of 2022 in all business sectors, "with an increase in Electronics for Defense and Security and a slight increase in Aerostructures," the company's note specifies.

The board of directors of Enel -- in the red by 1.3 percent -- reviewed and approved the interim report as of March 31, which closed with the group's ordinary net income at EUR1.51 billion from EUR1.48 billion in the same quarter 2022.

Revenues for the first quarter of 2023 were EUR26.4 billion, a decrease of EUR7.7 billion or 23 percent from the first quarter of 2022.

On the Mid-Cap, Maire Tecnimont trades down 6.4 percent after approving Wednesday its interim report for the year ended March 31 with consolidated net income of EUR26.2 million, up 47 percent. Group net income amounted to EUR25.2 million, up 37% from the first quarter of 2022.

Anima Holding gives up 0.3 percent after reporting Thursday that the group's net inflows of assets under management in April were positive EUR86 million.

In contrast, net inflows for the first four months were negative EUR482 million.

At the end of April, the group's total assets under management stood at more than EUR182 billion.

On Wednesday, the board of directors of Acea - in the red by 1.0 percent - confirmed Fabrizio Palermo as CEO and general manager of the company, who was given powers for the ordinary management of the company and the group.

Safilo Group - in the green by 0.5% - reported Wednesday that it saw first-quarter gross industrial profit rise to EUR167.8 million from EUR155.5 million in the same period a year earlier.

Saras returns below par after opening up 1.6 percent. It is reported that board of directors Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Massimo Moratti as chairman and chief executive officer. Franco Balsamo, general manager of the company, was instead appointed deputy ceo.

On the Small-Cap, at the bottom is Giglio Group, which gives up 22 percent after letting it be known that the auditing firm BDO Italia has advised that it is unable to express an opinion on the financial statements as of December 31, 2023.

"We do not express an opinion on the company's financial statements. We were unable to acquire sufficient and appropriate evidence on the assessment of material items in the financial statements, including for the purpose of assessing the appropriateness of the use of the going concern basis of accounting, in the preparation of the financial statements as of December 31, 2022," the auditing firm announced.

Giglio Group's board of directors "takes note of the conclusions reached" by BDO Italia "in the knowledge that it has acted correctly in the interest of the company and reserves further comments following a more in-depth examination of the reports."

Pierrel, on the other hand, lost 9.3 percent. The company announced Wednesday that it has signed agreements with 3M Company, a U.S.-based company whose shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, to acquire certain dental products for local anesthesia.

Mondo TV gives up 1.3 percent. The company announced Wednesday that the series Monster Loving Maniacs reached the number one position on CBBC--BBC British Broadacsting corporation, Children channel 7-12 years old--with over 40 percent share.

Conafi Prestitò's board of directors - in the red by 1.5 percent - approved Tuesday the financial statements as of Dec. 31, 2022 reporting a net loss of EUR3.4 million for the full year, worsening from a net loss of EUR1.7 million in 2021. Consolidated revenues amounted to EUR5.9 million up from EUR2.7 million in 2021.

Finally, among SMEs, RES - Sustainable Ethical Recovery, made its debut on Piazza Affari on Thursday after a EUR10.8 million IPO, bringing to 197 the number of SMEs listed on Euronext Growth Milan. The stock trades in the green by 8.3 percent at EUR4.33 per share.

Of note, Lottomatica Group picks up 2.0 percent after making its debut with an 8.9 percent drop on Euronext Milan on Wednesday, representing the third admission since the beginning of the year on the main market of Piazza Affari.

In the placement, Lottomatica raised EUR600 million, excluding the potential exercise of the over-allotment option, which would bring the total amount raised to EUR690 million. The free float at the time of admission is 26.5 percent and the market capitalization at the IPO is EUR2.27 billion.

Lottomatica is the first IPO in Europe by capital raised in 2023.

EdiliziAcrobatica gives up 5.4 percent after reporting Thursday that first quarter revenues were EUR36.8 million, up nearly 11 percent from the first quarter 2022 figure of EUR33.3 million.

Circle Group rises 1.3 percent. The company announced Wednesday that it has signed a new framework contract and a first project worth about EUR300,000 with a leading international multimodal logistics operator.

Fenix Entertainment remains at the bottom of the list and gives up 6.5 percent. On Friday it reported first quarter 2023 production value at EUR7.5 million from EUR4.6 million in first quarter 2022.

In Asia, with the Japanese stock exchange closed for holidays, the Shanghai Composite closed in the green by 0.8 percent at 3,350.46 while the Hang Seng finished up 1.3 percent at 19,948.73.

In New York, the Dow Jones closed in the red 0.8 percent to 33,414.24, the Nasdaq finished down 0.5 percent to 12,025.33 while the S&P 500 closed down 0.7 percent to 4,090.75.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.1049 versus USD1.1053 at Wednesday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2567 from USD1.2549 on Wednesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD73.19 per barrel compared to USD71.91 per barrel on Wednesday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,036.97 an ounce from USD2,023.71 an ounce at Wednesday's close.

On Thursday's macroeconomic calendar, at 1415 CEST, eyes on the ECB and the interest rate announcement. This will be followed half an hour later by the cosuete press conference with the central bank's president, Christine Lagarde.

At 1430 CEST, focus on U.S. claims for unemployment benefits while, at 1730 CEST, an auction of four- and eight-week U.S. Treasury bonds is scheduled.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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