07:39 AM EDT, 04/15/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Monday as traders weighed relative calm in the Middle East, and noted softer crude prices.

Bank and tech stocks led gainers, while oil issues lagged.

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

In economic news, industrial production in the euro area increased by 0.8% in February from January, Eurostat reported. In the broader European Union, industrial output grew by 0.7% month-over-month. Year-over-year, euro area industrial output dropped by 6.4% in February, while it was down by 5.4% in the EU.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 1.5%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.4%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.1%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Insurance Index inclined 0.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.9%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.3%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.9%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.1%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.40%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.7% to $89.86 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 7.2% to 17.44, still 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.