06:44 AM EST, 02/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Monday as traders digested Germany's weekend election results and a major food-industry buyout deal.

Food and property stocks gained, while tech issues lagged.

Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union appears to have emerged as the strongest player in national elections. Germany's broad-market DAX equities index was up 0.7% midday.

Just Eat Takeaway shares rallied 54% after Dutch company Prosus disclosed a buyout offer for the online food delivery service, which is also based in the Netherlands.

Market denizens eyed Wall Street futures signaling green, but soft closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

The Swiss Market Index (SMI) tested new all-time highs mid-session, topping 13,000.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.6%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.2%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.7%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.4%.

On the national market indexes, the FTSE 100 in London was flat, the CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.5%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.48%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were steady near $74.11 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 1.7% to 16.76, 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.