07:41 AM EDT, 10/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Tuesday, as traders weighed earnings-season reports and the installation of new leadership in Japan, ending a period of political uncertainty in Tokyo.

Property and bank stocks led gainers on continental trading floors, while food and retail shares lagged.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, but higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi was confirmed as Japan's new prime minister. Takaichi is regarded as a fiscal and monetary dove.

In economic news, Switzerland's international trade surplus struck 10.2 billion Swiss francs in Q3, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security reported.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.2% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.1%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index rose 0.7%.

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

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.8%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was down 0.1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.3%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.5%, and Spain's IBEX 35 rose 0.2%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 2.57%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.9% at $61.54 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.4% at 16.99, 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.