(Alliance News) - Ahead of central bank decisions -- starting tomorrow with the Bank of Japan -- and macro data from the Eurozone and the US, futures on major Old Continent listings are down ahead of Thursday's opening.

The FTSE Mib is given down 72.5 points or 0.3 percent after closing 0.5 percent in the red at 27,107.51 Wednesday evening.

London's FTSE 100 is expected to be down 15.0 points or 0.2 percent, Paris' CAC 40 is expected to be in the red 22.6 points or 0.3 percent while Frankfurt's DAX 40 is shown losing 25.5 points or 0.2 percent.

Last night in Milan, the Mid-Cap closed down 0.3 percent to 43,214.18, the Small-Cap gave up 0.3 percent to 28,931.49 and the Italy Growth finished the session down 0.4 percent to 9,219.62.

In Milan, on the main list of Piazza Affari, among the best was Pirelli & C, up since the bell rang, which finished up 0.8 percent.

Also among the few bullish performers was Amplifon, up 1.2 percent to EUR33.45.

At the bottom of the list, as anticipated, large presence of banks. Banco BPM gives up 5.3 percent, losing for the third consecutive session.

BPER Banca, on the other hand, closes in the red by 6.8%, positioning itself as the list's worst performer.

UniCredit, which already closed in the tail down 2.7 percent on Tuesday, loses 2.0 percent. The bank announced Tuesday that it had purchased 10.2 million of its own shares between April 17 and April 21, 2023. The shares were purchased at an average price of EUR19.4380 for a total value of EUR199.0 million.

On the Mid-Cap, decline for PharmaNutra, which closed down 4.2 percent. There was high trading volume on the stock, with 18,800 pieces changing hands compared to a three-month daily average of about 6,000.

Juventus FC gives up 3.3 percent after falling 7.6 percent on Tuesday on reports that UEFA, whatever the outcome of the sports trial in Italy, is considering exclusion from European cups for the Bianconeri for next season.

Maire Tecnimont closed in the green by 0.9 percent. The company reported Friday that its subsidiary NextChem, part of the Sustainable Technology Solutions business unit, after completing the advanced engineering study for methanation for the Salamandre project in Normandy, was awarded a new contract by Storengy to perform an additional advanced engineering study for gasification of wood waste and purification of synthesis gas system to produce biomethane.

Marr, on the other hand, closed on a positive note, rising 2.3 percent after the previous session's gain, albeit by 0.1 percent.

Alerion also did well, bringing home a plus 0.8% after four bearish sessions.

On the Small-Cap side, positive note for FILA, which rises 5.8% and rears its head again after four sessions on the bearish side.

algoWatt gives up 6.5 percent. The company announced Monday that it has entered into an "important framework agreement with a leading Italian credit institution," for the evolutionary and corrective maintenance of remote control solutions for technological systems and the management of maintenance teams at locations throughout Italy.

Borgosesia, on the other hand, brings home 4.7 percent, with the stock at EUR0.80. The stock on the MarketScreener platform has a target price-expressed by a single analyst-of EUR1.50.

Bioera gives up 8.0 percent after announcing Friday evening that the board of directors approved the financial statements as of December 31, 2022, reporting a group loss of EUR4.1 million compared to a profit of EUR15.3 million in fiscal year 2021. On the other hand, revenues amounted to EUR626,000 compared to EUR19.8 million in the previous year.

Autostrade Meridionali, on the other hand, retreats more than 15 percent, bringing its weekly liabilities to more than 35 percent.

Among SMEs, ILBE closed ahead 4.7 percent after a 0.6 percent loss on the eve.

High Quality Food also had a good session, posting a modest 0.9%, but rearing its head after eight bearish sessions.

Farmaé contracted 7.6 percent, following up on the previous session's 3.3 percent loss that closed.

In Asia, the Nikkei is up 0.1 percent to 28,445.53, the Shanghai Composite gains 0.6 percent to 3,284.78 and the Hang Seng rises 0.3 percent to 19,812.52.

In New York at Wednesday's close, the Dow Jones fell 0.7 percent to 33,301.87, the Nasdaq gaudagned 0.5 percent to 11,854.35 and the S&P 500 lost 0.4 percent to 4,055.99.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.1057 versus USD1.1052 at Wednesday's close. In contrast, the pound is worth USD1.2478 from USD1.2486 on Wednesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD78.17 per barrel versus USD80.75 per barrel on Wednesday evening. Gold, on the other hand, trades at USD1,999.26 an ounce from USD1,994.05 an ounce at Wednesday's close.

Thursday's macroeconomic calendar includes, at 1000 CEST, the release of Italian business confidence data while, at 1100 CEST, the same data will come for the Eurozone. At 1100 CEST, an auction of five- and 10-year BTPs will be held.

From the US, at 1430 CEST, eyes on Gross Domestic Product and unemployment claims data. At 1815 CEST, a speech by Panetta of the ECB is scheduled.

Among companies in the Piazza Affari, results from Elica, Eni, Franchi Umberto Marmi, Next Re and TraWell are expected.

By Giuseppe Fabio Ciccomascolo, Alliance News senior reporter

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