07:06 AM EST, 01/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Wednesday after comments from US President-elect Donald Trump increased perceived odds for higher NATO spending in Europe and boosted profiles of defense stocks.

Bank stocks gained on prospects that higher real interest rates will help lenders. Oil and retail issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling green, but largely lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, producer prices in the euro area and the EU rose 1.6% in November but declined by 1.2% on the year in the euro area and fell by 1.1% in the broader European Union, reported Eurostat.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.4% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.3%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 1.2%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.7%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index was flat.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.2%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.7%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.7%, and the FTSE 100 in London advanced 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.1%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.5%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.50%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures rose 0.2% to $77.18 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.9% to 16.17, indicating below-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a positive signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.