(Alliance News) - Futures mark a bullish path before the bell rings, in the last session of the week that counts slowing U.S. inflation as a focal point in markets.

The annual inflation rate in the United States slowed for the sixth consecutive month to 6.5 percent in December, the lowest since October 2021, in line with market forecasts. It followed a reading of 7.1 percent in November.

Among other macro news, Chinese exports in December fell at the fastest pace since 2020, according to official data on Friday, due to a drop in global demand and after health restrictions hit domestic economic activity. China's trade surplus in December still reached USD78 billion, but still well below July's record of USD101.2 billion.

Thus, the FTSE Mib rose 57.50 points after closing the previous session up 0.7 percent to 25,733.96.

The FTSE 100 has a reading just above par, Paris' CAC 40 is up 7.20 points, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is climbing 14.00 points.

Among the smaller lists on Thursday evening, the Mid-Cap was up 0.1 percent to 41,671.59, the Small-Cap was up 0.8 percent to 29,198.94, and Italy Growth finished up 0.2 percent to 9,502.01.

On the main list in Piazza Affari, Iveco marked a 4.4 percent rise. On Wednesday, the company confirmed that Iveco Bus, a brand of the group, has signed a three-year framework agreement for the supply of up to 150 E-WAY full electric city buses to Busitalia, the bus company of the FS Italiane Group that operates mainly in local public transport services, directly and through subsidiaries. It will represent, Iveco adds, the largest E-WAY city bus order to date in Italy.

Eni -- in the green by 1.2 percent -- announced Thursday that through Vår Energi, a listed company in which it is the largest shareholder, it will participate in a total of 12 new exploration licenses as a result of the "2022 Awards in Predefined Areas" tender process run by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Vår Energi was awarded 5 licenses as an Operator and 7 licenses as a partner. The licenses are distributed over all three major mining basins on the Norwegian continental shelf.

New all-time high for Terna - up 1.3 percent -, which in 2022 saw the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and regional departments authorize 29 interventions, with a total value of more than EUR2.5 billion in investments, aimed at developing the national electricity grid.

After surpassing EUR1 billion in authorized investments in 2021 for the first time in history, in 2022, the company led by Stefano Donnarumma recorded a new record, more than doubling the previous year's figure and substantially tenfold the 2020 figure, when investments amounted to EUR266 million.

On the bearish side, Interpump gave up 1.0 percent, following a 1.9 percent green in the previous session. DiaSorin, on the other hand, gave up 1.7 percent, after a 0.3 percent gain in the previous session.

On the Mid-Cap, the contracting station Agenzia Territoriale dell'Emilia-Romagna per i Servizi Idrici e Rifiuti - ATERSIR entered into contracts with Iren Ambiente, a subsidiary of Iren - up 0.5% - for the concession of the public service concession for waste management in the Parma and Piacenza territorial basins with a duration of 15 years, starting January 1, 2023. The total awarding of the two concessions entrusted following public tenders - covers 89 municipalities, with a total auction base amount of EUR1.3 billion. The rebates on the tender base presented by Iren Ambiente will save the territory nearly EUR60 million over the 15 years.

Mondadori closed 0.8 percent in the red after announcing Thursday that Stefano Peccatori will take over as president & CEO of U.S. publisher Rizzoli International Publications, among the market leaders in the picture book segment, and Rizzoli Bookstores, which is headed by one of New York's most prestigious bookstores, starting this month.

Seco lagged behind with 3.2 percent. The company on Wednesday disclosed that it had processed its pre-closing revenues for fiscal year 2022, which amounted to EUR200 million, up 78 percent from 2021 and in line with the official guidance communicated to the market last April. Organic growth was 43%, while like-for-like growth was 36%.

On the Small-Cap, d'Amico International Shipping rises 4.8 percent after announcing on Thursday that its operating subsidiary d'Amico Tankers DAC (Ireland) has exercised its option to purchase under the bareboat charter agreement related to the MT High Freedom, a 49,999-ton 'MR' built in January 2014 at Hyundai-Mipo, South Korea, for USD20.1 million.

It is expected that d'Amico Tankers will acquire full ownership of the vessel in April 2023.

Cellularline--up 2.0 percent--reported that Mauro Borgogno has been appointed as the company's new chief financial officer and corporate accounting officer.

Among SMEs, Racing Force closed up 1.5 percent after reporting that it closed the accelerated book building of 1.9 million newly issued ordinary shares. The newly issued shares were subscribed at a unit price of EUR5.15, for a total value of EUR10.0 million.

Askoll EVA closed in the green by more than 17 percent after it reported Wednesday evening that it had received a new order from customer Cooltra, a company that operates in Europe in sustainable two-wheeled mobility with a fleet of more than 20,000 vehicles. The value of the order is about EUR1.3 million.

Omer finished up 1.7 percent after announcing Thursday that it had signed a contract with Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems Italy to supply toilet modules. The order awarded to Omer involves the supply of toilet modules for 42 trains, with a total contract value of about EUR5 million. Production and delivery will begin in the first quarter of 2023, with the overall contract duration currently expected to be about 2 years.

Grifal, on the other hand, fell 4.9 percent, in the midst of profit taking after yesterday's surplus of more than 18 percent. The company reported that it has reached an agreement with José Neves Group to produce cArtù-branded corrugated board in Portugal through the joint venture Seven cArtù Lda.

In New York, the Dow closed in the green by 0.6 percent, the S&P 500 up 0.3 percent, while the Nasdaq rose 0.6 percent.

Among the Asian exchanges, the Hang Seng rose 0.8 percent, the Shanghai Composite picked up 0.9 percent, while the Nikkei slipped 1.3 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0842 versus USD1.0812 at Thursday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2188 from USD1.2163 last night.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD83.66 per barrel from USD84.35 per barrel last night. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,895.85 an ounce from USD1,895.10 an ounce last night.

On Friday's economic calendar, in Europe, between 0845 CET and 0900 CET the consumer price index of France and Spain are released.

At 1000 CET, Italy releases industrial production data, while Germany releases GDP.

At 1100 CET it is the turn of Eurozone industrial production data.

At 1400 CET from Spain comes the consumer confidence index.

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

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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