(Alliance News) - The Mib Friday extended the previous session's decline, dropping 1.2 percent and falling below the 32,300 level Friday, touching new five-month lows. The drop comes amid a global downturn fueled by concerns over the slowing economy and a sharp contraction in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

On the domestic front, Italian retail sales fell in June, Istat reported Friday. Istat estimates that sales fell 0.2 percent on a monthly basis in June, after rising 0.4 percent in May and against expectations of 0.2 percent growth predicted by FXStreet. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales fell 0.1 percent after rising 0.5 percent in May.

Also the Via Balbo Institute reported that industrial production increased in June on a monthly basis while the year-over-year decline continued, as reported by Istat on Friday. Italian industrial production rose 0.5 percent on a monthly basis in June, in line with the 0.5 percent recorded in May. On a year-over-year basis, June's 2.6 percent decline followed a 3.3 percent drop the month before.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is giving up 1.6 percent to 32,325.82.

The Mid-Cap is floating in the red 0.9 percent to 45,888.27, the Small-Cap is giving up 1.1 percent to 28,252.21, and Italy Growth is giving up 0.7 percent to 7,955.16.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is giving up 0.6 percent, London's FTSE100 is giving up 0.4 percent, and Frankfurt's DAX 40 is giving up 1.2 percent.

On the Mib, Azimut is giving up 4.4 percent, in its third bearish session. The board of directors on Thursday approved the half-yearly report as of June 30, closing with an adjusted net profit of EUR330 million, up 43% from EUR231 million in the first half of 2023.

STMicroelectronics is giving up 3.7 percent on the heels of eve's 3.4 percent decline.

Prysmian and Marinus Link Pty Ltd. on Thursday finalized an approximately EUR600 million contract to build a new power interconnection between Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. The start of work is subject to the issuance of a notice to proceed, scheduled for August 2025. This agreement follows the previous capacity reservation agreement announcement, announced in September 2023. Prysmian's stock is giving up 0.1 percent.

Pirelli - in the green by 0.3 percent - reported Thursday that it closed the first half of the year with revenues of EUR3.45 billion, roughly flat compared to EUR3.44 billion in the same period last year.

Green also for Amplifon, which climbed 0.3 percent after eve's 3.2 percent decline.

On the cadet segment, Carel Industries is picking up 1.2 percent with new price at EUR16.52. The company disclosed that on Thursday it had approved its half-year results as of June 30, a period ended with a profit of EUR27.8 million, down 31% from EUR40.3 million as of June 30.

Caltagirone is advancing 0.7 percent to EUR5.70 per share, in its fourth bearish session.

Salvatore Ferragamo -- in the green by 2.7% -- reported Thursday that it closed the first half with a profit of EUR5.7 million from EUR22.5 million as of June 30, 2023, down 73%. Revenues changed to EUR523.1 million, down from EUR600.1 million in the first half of 2023.

On a negative note, among many, De'Longhi is giving up 2.3%, in its fifth session with a bearish candle. The company on Wednesday reported that net income fell to EUR106.2 million from EUR82.7 million in the first six months and to EUR54.8 million from EUR44.0 million in the April-June period.

Iren - in the red by 0.2 percent - on Thursday finalized the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Egea Holding Spa, a company to which the operating branches of Egea Spa, Egea Commerciale Srl and Egea Produzioni e Teleriscaldamento Srl were previously transferred. The transaction was closed, in line with what was announced on March 30, for a total value of EUR85 million, consisting of a capital increase of EUR25,000 and a premium of EUR85.0 million.

On the SmallCap, good buying on Giglio Group, which is up more than 10% to EUR0.68 turning upward after two bearish sessions.

Aeffe - in the green by 2.7 percent - reported Thursday that it closed the first half of the year with a loss of EUR20.4 million, down from EUR11.7 million in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues amounted to EUR138.6 million from EUR162.9 million in the first half of 2023.

The board of Banca Profilo -- down 3.3 percent -- on Thursday evening approved the consolidated half-year financial report as of June 30, closing with a net profit of EUR5.9 million, down EUR3.7 million from the first six months of last year.

Il Sole 24 Ore -- in the red by 2.2 percent -- reported Thursday that it closed the first half with a net profit of EUR2.9 million compared to EUR5.4 million in the same period last year. The adjusted figure, which excludes nonrecurring charges and income, was unchanged at EUR1.7 million.

Among SMEs, Cofle advances 2.5 percent, following eve's contraction with 2.5 percent.

Good purchases also on Ediliziacrobatica, which advances 1.3% following eve's gain of 1.6%.

Relatech--flat at EUR2.50--reported Thursday that Gemini BidCo Srl, a subsidiary of Bregal, has taken over the entire stake of Pasquale Lambardi and his associate Gaxder Srl, rising to 53.3% of the company. Bregal's vehicle will now launch a tender offer to take over the remaining shares of Relatech, which will leave Piazza Affari once the tender offer is completed.

Espe--declining 1.3 percent--reported Thursday that it had taken over 40 percent of Rigoni Lab Srl, a Padua-based company highly specialized in the design and study of electrical and power generation systems, including those from renewable sources of any nature or type. The total value of the transaction, paid through own resources, was EUR190,000.

In New York on the European night, the Dow gave up 1.2 percent, the Nasdaq closed 2.3 percent in the red, and the S&P 500 gave up 1.4 percent.

In Asia, the Nikkei gave up 5.8 percent, the Hang Seng posted a 2.1 percent loss, and the Shanghai Composite was in the red by 0.9 percent.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0823 versus USD1.0791 on Thursday in closing European equities while the pound was worth USD1.2740 from USD1.2774 on Thursday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is trading at USD79.83 per barrel from USD80.49 per barrel at yesterday's close. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD2,462.38 an ounce from USD2,446.71 an ounce last night.

Friday's macroeconomic calendar calls for nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate at 1430 CEST in the afternoon from the US.

By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter

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