07:40 AM EDT, 06/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Thursday after the Swiss National Bank cut its key policy rate by 0.25% to 1.25%, although the Bank of England held firm.

Tech, property, and retail issues led gainers, while food issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling green, but uneven closes overnight on Asian exchanges after the People's Bank of China declined to provide rate relief.

The Bank of England kept its key interest rate unchanged at 5.25% for the seventh consecutive policy meeting, although two members of the seven-person governing board voted for a rate cut.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.5% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.3%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.5%.

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

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.7%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.9%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.4%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 1%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.5%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.42%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 0.3% to $85.34 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.5% to 18.52, 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.