(Alliance News) - European stock markets are off to a muted start in the last session of July -- with Milan just above parity -- taking a breather after a recent rally that pushed listings to multi-year highs.
Investors took a cautious approach, waiting for the release of the latest flash data on eurozone GDP and inflation due today, as well as proceeding to assess what the monetary policy outlook might be after the recent ECB and Fed hikes both by 25 bps.
Thus, the FTSE Mib is picking up 0.1 percent to 29,529.52.
In Europe, London's FTSE 100 is giving up 0.2 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is just below par, and Frankfurt's DAX is posting minus 0.1 percent.
The Mid-Cap is giving up 0.2 percent to 42,714.06, the Small-Cap is just below par at 27,061.57, and Italy Growth is in the green 0.1 percent to 9,095.66.
On the highest-capitalization list in Piazza Affari, Banca Monte dei Paschi advances 2.5 percent to EUR2.66 per share.
Reflecting the good session for the banking sector from the stress tests, BPER Banca is picking up 1.9 percent, as is Banco BPM.
Eni is also advancing well, with the six-legged dog's stock moving ahead 1.2% after Friday's 0.5% setback.
Negative notes include Leonardo, which gives up 2.0%. The board of directors Friday unanimously reviewed and approved first-half results, which closed with a net profit of EUR208 million from EUR267 million in the comparable period.
Backwardation also for Saipem, which posted minus 2.5 percent. On the stock, Marshall Wace raised its short position to 0.85% from 0.71% previously.
On the cadet segment, Antares Vision did well, advancing 1.5 percent after a 0.8 percent loss on the eve.
Cementir Holding, meanwhile, marks a plus 1.3%, with the stock aiming for its fifth bullish session.
High quarters also for De Longhi, which advances plus 1.3% with new price at EUR22.44.
Up goes Juventus FC, which advances 0.7% despite the fact that its exclusion from the upcoming Conference League has been made official by UEFA.
On the SmallCap, Giglio Group marks a 5.8% green with new price at EUR0.6060.
On the other hand, D'Amico advances 2.8 percent after closing a good half-year with a net profit of USD99.8 million from USD19.2 million in the same period last year. The board of directors proposed the distribution of a dividend of USD0.0153 per share.
Biesse, on the other hand, is giving up 4.9 percent, with new price at EUR11.49 per share. The company reported Friday that it ended the first half of the year with revenues almost stable year-on-year, at EUR418.2 million from EUR419.1 million in the same period last year. Profit on a half-year basis was also nearly stable, rising to EUR19.5 million from EUR19.4 million in the first six months of the year and rising to EUR7.2 million from EUR9.6 million in the second quarter. Sales for the second quarter alone, however, show a figure of EUR208.7 million, down from EUR222.5 million in the second quarter a year earlier.
Among SMEs, Alfonsino advances more than 10 percent, setting the new price at EUR0.76 per share.
Cofle, on the other hand, marks a plus 4.1%. The company reported Friday that first-half revenues rose to EUR32.2 million from EUR27.5 million in the same period a year earlier.
Italian Wine Brands, on the other hand, advances 4.4 percent, with new price at EUR21.50.
In a still uneventful list, Allcore marks a minus 3.3 percent, after Friday's green with 1.4 percent.
In New York on Friday evening, the Dow Jones closed in the green by 0.5 percent, the S&P rose 1.0 percent, and the Nasdaq picked up 1.9 percent.
Among Asian exchanges, the Nikkei advanced 1.3 percent, the Hang Seng is gaining 0.8 percent, while the Shanghai Composite picked up 0.5 percent.
Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.1009 against USD1.1033 in Friday's European equities close while the pound is instead worth USD1.2852 from USD1.2864 on Friday evening.
Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD83.94 per barrel versus USD84.55 per barrel at Friday's close. Gold, meanwhile, trades at USD1,955.27 an ounce from USD1,962.19 an ounce on Thursday evening.
On Monday's macroeconomic calendar, at 1000 CEST, Italy's quarterly Gross Domestic Product will be released, followed at 1100 CEST by the inflation figure, while it will also come at the same time, along with GDP from the Eurozone.
At 1200 CEST, from Italy, focus on the trade balance.
In the evening, from the US, at 1730 CEST, auction of Treasury bonds with 3- and 6-month maturities.
On the corporate calendar, among several expected results are those of CIR, Convergenze, Culti, Eles, Gabetti , Nexi, RCS, and Saras.
By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News senior reporter
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