(Alliance News) - Piazza Affari closed central bank week higher on Friday, along with other European bourses, following the Fed's decision to put rate hikes on hold -- while also hinting at new hikes in July -- and the ECB's decision to remain aggressive with a plus 25 basis points.

The FTSE 100, writes Axel Rudolph, senior market analyst at online trading platform IG, recorded its first positive week in a month. "Markets were not overly concerned about the Fed's seemingly aggressive stance and another ECB rate hike and continued to rise heading into Friday, the day on which U.S. stock options, stock index futures and stock index options expire."

"Next week's RBA and BoJ minutes, the anticipation of the BoE's thirteenth rate hike to 4.75 percent, and the plethora of Fed officials speaking next week could show cracks in the bullish picture," the analyst pointed out.

The FTSE Mib closed up 0.5 percent at 27,861.80.

Among the smaller listings, the Mid-Cap closed in the green 0.6 percent to 43,806.40, the Small-Cap up 0.1 percent to 27,611.19, and Italy Growth in the red 0.2 percent to 9,125.26.

In Europe, London's FTSE 100 closed up 0.2 percent, Paris' CAC 40 finished in the green with 1.3 percent while Frankfurt's DAX 40 advanced 0.4 percent.

On the highest-capitalization basket in Piazza Affari, the board of directors of A2A - in the green by 0.6 percent - passed a framework resolution authorizing the issuance, by April 30, 2026, of one or more unsubordinated, unsecured and non-convertible bonds up to a total maximum of EUR1.65 billion from its EMTN program - established in 2012 - whose total maximum amount will be increased to EUR7 billion from EUR6 billion.

UniCredit closed up 2.2 percent after announcing on Thursday that it intends to support Nusco Spa, a company active in the production and marketing of interior doors and frames made of wood, PVC, aluminum and iron under the "Nusco" brand, listed on the Euronext Growth Milan market with two loans totaling EUR2.5 million, guaranteed by SACE.

SACE's green guarantee, reads a note, is in support of the two loans that will allow the Nola-based company to innovate its production line of wooden frames and install photovoltaic panels.

DiaSorin did best of all with a rise of 3.1 percent.

Tenaris is tail-end, down 1.2 percent. Eni was also bad, down 0.6 percent, while Saipem closed up 0.2 percent.

On the Mid, after a week-long rally, MFE A shares closed up 1.8% while class B shares are down 1.7%. It will take at least a couple of weeks, with the opening of Silvio Berlusconi's will, to see how the balance will be adjusted at Fininvest, the Milan-based holding company that controls MFE, Mondadori and 30 percent of Banca Mediolanum, writes Francesco Bonazzi.

Meanwhile, Mondadori closed down 0.5 percent and German investee ProsiebenSat closed just above par in Frankfurt. MFE also noted the resignation of Erik Huggers as a member of the supervisory board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media."

The TV company explained that with regard to Klára Brachtlová, proposed by the supervisory board as a possible replacement, "MFE believes she has the right profile to contribute positively to the future value creation of ProSiebenSat.1 Media in the best interest of all shareholders."

Tamburi Investment Partners--up 1.7 percent--reported Thursday that it had sold a 3.98 percent stake in Azimut|Benetti.

The transaction took place in the context of a reorganization of the Azimut|Benetti group's shareholding structure as a result of which the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, entered the capital of Azimut|Benetti, acquiring a 33 percent stake.

ENAV--in the red by 0.1 percent--reported Thursday that, through its subsidiary IDS AirNav--a leading international company in aviation information management systems and flight procedure design--has signed a contract with ANS CZ, the service provider for air traffic control in the Czech Republic.

On the Small, Tessellis closed 4.0 percent in the red after announcing on Wednesday evening that it had received two expressions of irrevocable commitment from CC & Soci Srl and Drag Srl to subscribe to a portion of the shares from the capital increase approved by the board of directors on May 11, 2023.

The board of directors of Zucchi -- in the green by 0.9 percent -- on Wednesday approved its interim report for the year to March 31, having reported a profit of EUR1.9 million from EUR2.1 million in the same period last year.

Somec closed in the red by 0.7 percent. On Friday it reported that its U.S. subsidiary Fabbrica LLC was awarded a new contract for a 34-story building in New York City. The contract is worth more than USD23 million and consists of the design, manufacture and installation of more than 12 thousand square meters of custom curtain walling intended for a new building to be constructed on Ninth Avenue, an artery on Manhattan's West Side, a few blocks from Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building.

Gabetti finished up 7.6 percent, above all others.

Among SMEs, Relatech-which closed up 0.4 percent-announced Friday that it had entered into binding agreements aimed at acquiring the remaining 40 percent of Sigla Srl Group's share capital, for a total of EUR715,000.

At the top is Visibilia Editore, up 5.9 percent while on the other side of the list Fenix Entertainment loses more than 23 percent. The company on Thursday evening disclosed that with reference to the first tranche of the convertible bond referred to in the contract signed by Negma Group Investment Ltd, the company has received - from Negma - request number 20 for partial conversion of 2 bonds.

In New York, the Dow is in the red by 0.1 percent, the Nasdaq gives up 0.3 percent, while and the S&P 500 is in the fractional red.

Among currencies, the euro changes hands at USD1.0923 versus USD1.0910 yesterday in closing European equities. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2808 from USD1.2743 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD75.78 per barrel versus USD74.27 per barrel last night. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,957.42 an ounce from USD1,956.41 an ounce last night.

Monday afternoon's macroeconomic calendar features a number of Canadian macros at 1430 CEST, including the industrial and commodity price index.

At 1455 CEST, French BTF auctions will be held.

In Piazza Affari, no special events are scheduled.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News senior reporter

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