07:49 AM EDT, 08/16/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday as traders weighed the earnings season and recent positive economic releases in Europe and the US.

Bank and tech stocks gained, while property issues lagged.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, but higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, including a 3.6% rise on Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index.

UK retail sales rose 0.5% in July from June, and were up 1.4% on the year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.3% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.5%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.8%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.1%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index was flat.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.3%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.6%, but the FTSE 100 in London bucked trends and was down 0.5%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.4%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.21%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were down 2.3% to $79.19 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 0.6% to 15.39, 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.