07:42 AM EDT, 04/10/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Wednesday ahead of the March inflation bulletin from Washington, while traders await the European Central Bank's Thursday policy announcement.

The property, bank, retail, and tech sectors showed strength in continental morning trades.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures edging into the green, but choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges, although Mumbai's Sensex struck a fresh all-time high. Trading floors in mainland China dampened after a downbeat report from credit-rating agency Fitch cited rising government debt.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.6% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was 1% higher, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index rose 1.2%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.9%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index edged 0.3% higher.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1.1%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 1.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.9%, and the FTSE 100 in London was 0.7% higher. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.6%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.6%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.36%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.5% at $89.91 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 5% at 15.49, 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.