07:38 AM EDT, 07/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Thursday as traders awaited the pending result of a European Central Bank policy session and as tech issues broadly steadied.

Bank, food, and oil stocks led gains.

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

Seasonally adjusted construction activity fell 0.9% in May from April in the euro area and by 1.0% in the broader European Union, reported Eurostat. In May, construction activity fell 2.4% on the year in the euro area and by 2.5% in the EU.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was flat, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.8%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.8%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.2%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.5%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.3%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.6%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.6%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.7%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.44%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were down 0.2% to $84.94 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 1% to 14.71, 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.