Indices in green; Intesa tops the Mib.

(Alliance News) - On Monday, major European stock markets continue to follow a bullish course following the release of some important macroeconomic data from the Old Continent, with the Tokyo and London Stock Exchanges remaining closed for holidays.

Thus, the FTSE Mib is in the green by 0.9 percent at 33,913.11, the Mid-Cap is in the green by 0.5 percent at 47,519.15, the Small-Cap is in the fractional green at 29,062.70, while Italy Growth is up by 0.2 percent at 8,232.54.

In Europe, Paris' CAC 40 is in the green by 0.3 percent, while Frankfurt's DAX 40 is up 0.5 percent.

Eurostat reported Monday that in March compared with February, industrial producer prices fell 0.4 percent in the Eurozone and 0.5 percent in the EU.

From the latest data compiled in the Hamburg Commercial Bank survey released Monday by S&P Global, however, at the start of the second quarter the Eurozone's economic recovery continues to advance at the fastest rate of overall growth in economic activity in 11 months. Once again, the expansion was led by the service sector, which indicated a strong improvement in production levels and at somewhat faster rates than the survey's historical average, which began in 1998.

In detail, the April Eurozone composite manufacturing PMI index rose to 51.7 from 50.3 in March, registering a moderate expansion in total economic activity but indicating the strongest reading in nearly a year.

In Italy, the HCOB PMI index of tertiary activity in Italy stood at 54.3 points in April, slowing slightly from 54.6 points in March, as released by S&P Global on Monday.

On the Mib, Intesa Sanpaolo advanced 2.8 percent and took the podium. The bank reported Friday that it posted a first-quarter profit of EUR2.30 billion for the year, up 18 percent from EUR1.96 billion and in line with its EUR8 billion target for the year.

Tenaris and Saipem follow, in the green by 2.0% and 1.0% respectively.

Banco BPM also did well, in the green by 1.1. The latter reported that it has concluded the second tranche of its share buyback program, which started on February 29 of this year.

The program ended with the purchase of 16.4 million of the company's own ordinary shares for a total consideration of EUR277.1 million, or about USD400 million. To date, the company holds 34.1 million of its own ordinary shares, or 2.9 percent of its share capital.

Nexi--up 0.7 percent--reported that Bo Nilsson has resigned, effective immediately, from the board of directors. Nilsson, who holds 6.1 million shares in the company, left Nexi's board due to unforeseen professional commitments.

On the Mid-Cap, D'Amico leads the list with 3.8 percent while GVS follows in the green by 3.1 percent.

Webuild -- in the green by 1.1 percent -- announced that it has submitted a pro bono project with its U.S. subsidiary Lane to rebuild Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last March causing the loss of numerous lives and severing a vital link between the city's harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.

Carel Industries and Seco have signed an agreement to develop a new solution to support the digital transformation of infrastructure in the segments in which Carel is active. The two companies are down 0.5 percent and in the green 0.1 percent among smallcaps, respectively.

The two companies have started the design of an innovative and powerful supervisory system, "a fundamental device for the control of refrigeration and air conditioning processes, which allows real-time data collection and remote monitoring," they specify in a note.

Anima Holding rises 0.4 percent. The company announced Thursday that it has finalized the acquisition of Kairos Partners SGR. The acquired company will be consolidated by Anima Holding effective May 2024.

On the Small-Cap, Softlab takes the lead with 6.5 percent, followed by Cairo Communication with 6.2 percent and Digital Bros up 4.0 percent.

Safilo Group rises 0.2 percent. The company announced Thursday that it has signed a perpetual license agreement with Authentic Brands Group for Eyewear by David Beckham, replacing the previous contract that expires at the end of 2030.

Under the new agreement, Safilo will continue to manage the entire value chain, from the design phase, a creative process led by David Beckham, to global manufacturing and distribution.

Seri Industrial gives up 1.2 percent after two heavy bearish sessions. It reported Tuesday that during the first quarter 2024 it posted revenues of EUR43.4 million with a slight decrease of EUR237,000 from the previous reporting period.

GPI--green by 0.8 percent--reported that it has won the tender for the implementation of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region's Integrated Transfusion Information System.

The contract, worth EUR1.8 million and with a duration of 48 months, aims to support all phases of the transfusion process: from the collection of blood for donation, to its storage and distribution, to transfusion at the patient's bedside so as to ensure the highest standards of quality, reliability and safety for patients and operators, the company explained in a note.

Edison -- which shares only savings shares -- rises 0.3 percent after reporting a profit of EUR322 million in the first quarter of the year from EUR288 million in the same period of 2023, thanks, in particular, to an increase in renewable production and good sales performance of Edison Energia.

Revenues amounted to EUR4.07 billion from EUR6.10 billion in the first quarter of the year before. Energy demand in Italy increased by 0.7 percent year-on-year and gas demand fell by 4.0 percent. On the other hand, the decline in sales revenues was due to the reduction in the price scenario, despite the positive performance of sales volumes.

Among SMEs, Clabo--in the red by 1.7 percent--reported Thursday that it had approved consolidated financial statements as of December 31, which closed with a profit of EUR1.2 million from EUR900,000 a year earlier.

Revenues rose to EUR60.5 million from EUR51.4 million.

E-Globe gives up 3.5 percent. The company on Friday disclosed that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100 percent of the Spanish company Bayona Petit Tradex Consulting, active in the air conditioning sector and owner of the www.climamarket.eu brand.

The binding agreement involves E-Globe's purchase of 100 percent of Bayona's share capital - 98.80 percent sold by partner Enrique Martinez Bayona and 1.20 percent by partner Xenia Pages Petit - at a price of EUR3 million, partially financed through recourse to the banking channel and the remainder with equity.

In Asia, the Hang Seng closed in the green by 0.6 percent and the Shanghai Composite finished up 1.2 percent.

In New York on Friday, the Dow closed in the green 1.2 percent to 38,675.68, the Nasdaq rose 2.0 percent to 16,156.33 and the S&P 500 gained 1.3 percent to 5,127.79.

Among currencies, the euro changed hands at USD1.0769 from USD1.0747 on Friday in European equities closing while the pound was worth USD1.2582 from USD1.2549 on Friday evening.

Among commodities, Brent crude is worth USD83.38 a barrel from USD83.61 a barrel Friday evening and gold trades at USD2,313.92 an ounce from USD2,292.05 an ounce Friday evening.

Monday afternoon's macroeconomic calendar includes from the U.S., speeches by Fed's Barkin and Williams and national vehicle sales data, at 1600 CEST.

By Chiara Bruschi, Alliance News reporter

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