07:39 AM EDT, 08/15/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Thursday as traders weighed calmer inflation reports from the US this week and the possibility of rate cuts from major global central banks in the second half of the year.

Tech shares led gainers, while property stocks lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures modestly signaling green, and unevenly higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

The UK gross domestic product is estimated to have increased by 0.6% in Q2 following a 0.7% rise in Q1, the Office of National Statistics reported.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was 0.4% higher, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index was flat.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.3%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index edged 0.1% higher.

The REITE, a European REIT index, declined 0.2%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was 0.1% lower.

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

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.2%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 0.9% at $80.45 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.9% at 16.61, 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.