(Alliance News) - European equity indices - according to the futures market - are on track for a lower opening on Thursday due to persistent concerns over inflationary pressures and new tariff threats from the US.
The US presidential administration has threatened additional tariffs of up to 12.5% against several trading partners for their failure to prohibit goods produced with forced labor, reigniting trade tensions with the EU.
Meanwhile, fresh clashes between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have further compromised ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Consequently, the MIB - after recording a 1.1% contraction to 50,038.16 yesterday evening - is shedding 67.50 points.
Other markets are also trading lower, with the CAC 40 down 30.50 points, the FTSE 100 retreating by 53.00 points, while the DAX 40 gives up 38.00 points.
Among the secondary indices yesterday evening, the Mid-Cap closed down 0.8% at 62,030.90, the Small-Cap shed 1.1% to 35,669.11, and Italy Growth left 1.1% on the floor at 9,141.49.
On Piazza Affari yesterday evening, DiaSorin - among the few gainers - rose 2.2% following a 1.7% contraction the previous day.
Lottomatica - in the green by 1.6% - announced on Wednesday that it purchased 215,000 of its own ordinary shares between May 25 and May 29, for a total value of EUR5.4 million.
STMicroelectronics, meanwhile, gained 0.4%. The company on Wednesday presented a smart vibration sensor designed for industrial condition monitoring applications requiring high precision, reliability, and energy efficiency. In a note, the company stated that the sensor was developed using ST MEMS technology, which brings advanced digital signal processing and AI inference closer to the sensing element.
Eni - up 1.4% - announced on Wednesday that it acquired approximately 1.8 million of its own ordinary shares between May 28 and May 29. The shares were purchased at an average unit price of EUR22.5816, for a total value of nearly EUR40 million.
Generali closed down 0.7% at EUR38.85 per share. JPMorgan confirmed its 'overweight' rating on the stock and raised the target price to EUR44.00 from EUR41.00, after updating estimates following the first-quarter results for 2026. Analysts believe the quarter reinforced the positive case for the group's earnings quality, leading to a 3.0% increase in adjusted earnings per share forecasts for 2026 and 2.5% for 2027.
At the bottom of the list was Stellantis, which saw its price pull back by 4.0%, marking its fifth consecutive bearish session.
Its subsidiary Fiat presented the first official images of the Fiat Grizzly and Grizzly Fastback on Wednesday, two new models intended to expand the brand's presence in the C-segment. The two vehicles, developed on a shared global platform, will join the Grande Panda and represent a further step in Fiat's strategy in the family mobility market.
On the mid-cap segment, Comer Industries shed 2.3% to EUR52.00 per share, following a 3.1% gain the previous day.
Anima Holding ended the run with a bearish candle of 2.4%, following a 0.4% drop on Tuesday evening.
Webuild - rising 3.6% - announced on Wednesday that Lane, a group company, will construct the USD1 billion Ohio River Tunnel in a 50% joint venture with local partner Brayman.
Banca Generali - up 0.8% - announced on Wednesday that it achieved net inflows of EUR1.05 billion in May, a 72% increase compared to EUR609 million the previous year, bringing the year-to-date cumulative figure to EUR3.80 billion, up 41% from EUR2.70 billion in the same period of 2025.
On the Small-Cap, selling pressure hit Tesmec, which concluded trading down 4.8%. The stock - which has not paid a dividend since 2016 - repositioned its price in the EUR0.27 area after a 5.2% rise on Tuesday evening.
Seri Industrial recorded a bearish candle of 3.1%, subject to profit-taking after ten consecutive sessions of upward trends.
Olidata pushed its price up by 8.4%. Notably, the stock saw high and unusual trading volume, with over 163,000 shares traded compared to the three-month average of 37,000.
Met.Extra, meanwhile, gained 2.5% after a 1.7% loss the previous day, with a final price in the EUR2.44 per share area.
Among SMEs, Ecosuntek advanced 7.7% after two bearish sessions, bringing the closing price to EUR3.34 per share.
Helyx Industries pushed its price up 6.1% to EUR0.83 per share, following a 12% rise the previous day.
Circle - down 1.6% - announced on Wednesday the signing of two contracts totaling approximately EUR250,000 for the evolution of digital systems supporting port rail intermodality. The agreements cover development activities and management services within a co-funded project, with particular reference to increasing Extended Port Community System functionalities and strengthening digital tools supporting port and intermodal rail management.
Com.Tel shed 6.7% following a 4.8% loss in the previous session, with a final quote of EUR1.66 per share.
In New York, during the European evening, the Dow retreated 1.2%, the Nasdaq shed 0.9%, while the S&P 500 closed down 0.7%.
Among Asian markets, the Nikkei is recording a 1.4% loss, the Shanghai Composite is shedding 0.4%, while the Hang Seng retreats 1.6%.
On the currency front, the euro is changing hands at USD1.1609 from USD1.1605 on Wednesday evening, while the pound trades at USD1.3430 from USD1.3434 yesterday evening.
Among commodities, Brent trades at USD96.68 per barrel from USD97.94 on Wednesday evening, while gold is worth USD4,475.52 per ounce from USD4,441.45 at yesterday's close.
On Thursday's economic calendar, the construction PMI for Italy, Germany, France, and the Eurozone will arrive at 0930 CEST, followed an hour later by the UK.
From the US, at 1430 CEST, the focus will be on jobless claims, and a speech by the FOMC's Barkin is scheduled.
On the Piazza Affari corporate calendar, no significant events are scheduled.
By Maurizio Carta, Alliance News reporter
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