The rise of European stock exchanges
Today was a positive day for European stock exchanges, with the Ftse Mib in Piazza Affari closing 1.9% higher, reaching 34,358 points. This increase was driven by several significant business performances, including +11.6% of MPS, after the Treasury placed 15% of the Sienese bank, reducing its shareholding from 26.7% to 11.7%
and collecting 1.1 billion euros.
Other notable securities include Telecom Italia, which registered an increase of 8.15% after the publication of the quarterly report, and Banca Popolare di Sondrio, with an increase of 4.7%. However, not all companies showed positive performance: Iveco Group saw a decline of 2.5%, as did Diasorin, which
recorded a -2% drop.
Economic Indicators and Monetary Policies
The second reading of eurozone GDP for the third quarter confirmed a modest growth of 0.4%. The ECB minutes revealed that officials preferred to anticipate the rate cut, despite the scarcity of data, to avoid holding back the economy excessively and jeopardizing inflation prospects. This decision has been received with attention by the markets, which closely monitor monetary policies
.
In the United States, data on producer prices showed an increase of 0.2%, in line with expectations, while weekly claims for unemployment benefits fell to 217 thousand, marking a slight drop. These data were positively received, suggesting some stability in the labor market
.
Focus on commodities and Forex
In the commodities market, Brent oil is just above 72 dollars per barrel, while gold remains at 2,577 dollars an ounce. On the currency front, the dollar continues to show strength compared to other currencies, with the euro/dollar exchange rate traveling at 1.0575 and the dollar/yen reaching 155.8, fueling speculation
about possible interventions by the Japanese authorities.
In the cryptocurrency sector, Bitcoin fell, slipping to 88,500 dollars.
Wall Street opened slightly higher, influenced by inflation data and Federal Reserve interest rate speculation.
News in the technological and tourism sector
In Europe, the European Commission has required Booking Holdings to comply with the Digital Markets Act, modifying the role of Booking.com in the tourism sector. This measure will allow companies to differentiate prices and conditions on different online sales channels, promoting greater equity in
the digital market.
In addition, Siemens experienced significant growth in the fourth quarter, with orders and revenues increasing. Net profit reached an all-time high, and the company proposed an increase in the dividend, despite a decrease in orders on an annual basis. This overall performance was supported by excellent cash flow, demonstrating the company’s resilience in a challenging economic environment
.