(Alliance News) – On Friday, European stock markets hovered around the flatline, winding down the momentum seen at the close of the previous year.

On the macroeconomic front, Italy’s manufacturing sector ended 2025 with a widespread contraction, breaking the growth trend recorded in November.

Additionally, according to data published Friday by S&P Global and compiled together with Hamburg Commercial Bank, the Eurozone’s PMI index dropped in December to 48.8 from 49.6 in November, pushing it further below the neutral 50.0 threshold and indicating a sharper deterioration in manufacturing business conditions.

As a result, the Mib is up 0.4% at 45,135.53 points.

Among the smaller indices, the Mid-Cap is flat at 58,842.11, the Small-Cap is up 0.3% at 36,980.89, and Italy Growth is positive by 1.1% at 8,712.64 points.

London’s FTSE 100 is up 0.4%, Paris’s CAC 40 is fractionally in the green at 8,153 points, while Frankfurt’s DAX 40 is fractionally in the red at 24,486 points.

Among blue chips, Banca Monte dei Paschi had a strong start, rising 2.6% to EUR9.373 per share after hitting a new 52-week high.

Fincantieri is also advancing, up 4.1% at EUR17.38 per share, following a 0.9% gain in the previous session.

STMicroelectronics leads the pack with a 4.6% surge to EUR23.51 per share.

Mediobanca is up 0.8%, on track for its third consecutive bullish session.

At the bottom of the list is Ferrari, closing the segment down 1.0%, with the price hovering around EUR315.50.

Banca Popolare di Sondrio is up 0.5% following the signing of an agreement with Nexi—down 0.7%—for the sale of its merchant acquiring business and the transfer to Nexi of its minority stake in Nexi Payments. The company clarified that the transaction amounts, EUR105 million and EUR57.7 million respectively, will be settled entirely in cash at closing.

In the mid-cap segment, Italmobiliare is up 4.6% at EUR28.60 per share, rebounding after two bearish sessions.

Technoprobe is up 5.5%, following a 0.1% gain at Tuesday’s close.

Juventus—up 0.2%—has closed a delicate chapter in its dispute with the oversight authority. Consob has concluded proceedings against the club, some former directors and managers, and a current executive, imposing administrative fines that are overall lower than initially contested.

Juventus Football Club was fined EUR190,000, less than the initial proposal from the authority’s offices.

NewPrinces, up 2.6%, has completed the acquisition of 100% of Plasmon from Kraft Heinz Italia for EUR124.3 million.

OVS—down 0.5%—announced Friday, in light of interest in the operation, that the binding offer for the acquisition of 100% of Kasanova has been extended until February 4.

On the Small-Cap, Beewize is up 9.7% at EUR0.34 per share, after a 6.1% drop on Tuesday evening.

Strong gains also for Aeffe, up by about 14%, on track for its fifth consecutive bullish session.

OPS eCom Spa announced it has sold its stakes in Giglio Shanghai Technology CO, Media 360 HK, and Salotto di Brera, transferring them to Alfonso Apicella at a nominal value of EUR4,000.

The sale generated a capital loss of about EUR100,000. The stock is flat at EUR0.12 per share.

Mare Group, up 3.2%, and Borgosesia, flat at EUR0.56, announced that EasyGo, a search fund jointly promoted, has completed its first acquisition with the purchase of EMM Systems.

The consideration for the transaction amounts to a total equity value of EUR7.5 million.

EPH—down 5.5%—has resolved, at the proposal of shareholder RONA Limited Company, to set the number of board members at five and the board’s term at three years.

Furthermore, Roberto Culicchi was appointed chairman of the board, with Rodolfo Galbiati, Fabio Ramondelli, Biancamaria Zara, and Federica Capponi (the latter two as independent directors) also joining.

Among SMEs, Farmacosmo is performing well, up 7.3% at EUR0.487 per share, marking its third consecutive bullish session.

Cloudia Research—down 0.9%—has issued a non-convertible, non-subordinated bond loan with a nominal amount of EUR1.5 million, a 7-year maturity, and a 12-month pre-amortization period.

RES – Recupero Etico Sostenibile Spa announced Friday that the Molise Region has granted EUR527,000 and the University of Naples “Federico II” EUR397,000 for the investment program for the project called “Muon Radiography for Landfill Mining.”

With a total investment of EUR1.2 million, the program provides for EUR924,000 in non-repayable grants for the development of experimental research and development activities. RES shares are up 2.9% at EUR6.42 per share.

Rino Petino posted a double-digit performance, up 22% at EUR2.28 per share.

In New York, the Dow fell 0.6% in the last session, while the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each lost 0.8%.

On the currency front, the euro is trading at USD1.1715 from USD1.1761 at Tuesday’s close in European equity markets, while the pound is trading at USD1.3446 from USD1.3517 on Tuesday evening.

Among commodities, Brent is trading at USD60.76 per barrel from USD61.44 per barrel at Tuesday’s close, while gold is valued at USD4,395.86 per ounce from USD4,366.68 per ounce on Tuesday evening.

On Friday’s economic calendar, Italian car registration data is due at 1800 CET.

The Fed’s balance sheet will be available at 2230 CET.

By Michele Cirulli, Alliance News Reporter

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