07:50 AM EDT, 10/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Thursday on strength in the food sector, and after French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his cabinet survived two confidence motions, possibly signaling government stability in Paris.

Nestle shares were up 7.5% after the Swiss food giant logged better-than-expected organic growth in the third quarter, bolstering confidence in improved full-year performance. The company also stepped up its cost-saving measures.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures flashing green, and higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, led by fresh all-time zeniths struck on broad-market equity indexes in South Korea and Taiwan.

In economic news, the Swiss gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to expand by 1.3% in 2025, unchanged from the previous forecast, estimated the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. However, the nation's GDP growth for 2026 was revised down to 0.9% from 1.2%.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was little changed, the Stoxx 600 Banks Index rose 0.4%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was 0.1% lower, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index gained 3.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.6%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was almost steady.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.9%, and Spain's IBEX 35 eased 0.1%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.58%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.9% at $62.45 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.2% at 18.72, 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.