06:41 AM EST, 02/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Wednesday as traders weighed earnings reports, and easing petroleum prices.

Food and property stocks gained, while oil issues lagged.

Heineken shares traded up 12.7% midday after the Dutch brewer posted better-than-expected earnings and disclosed a $1.55 billion share buyback program.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures mildly signaling red, but higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, Italian industrial output in December fell by 7.1% on year, reported Istat.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.1%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.5%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.6%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 1.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1.2%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.3%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London was flat. The CAC 40 in Paris was steady, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.7%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.45%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 1% to $76.19 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.3% to 16.30, 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.