07:42 AM EDT, 03/13/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Wednesday as traders waded into retail issues on prospects for a sector earnings revival in 2024.

Bank and tech stocks also gained, while property issues lagged.

Shares of Zalando traded up 14.3% mid-session after the German online fashion retailer forecast upbeat 2024 revenue and earnings.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, and uneven closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

Eurozone industrial production decreased by 3.2% in January from December, and fell by 2.1% in the broader European Union, reported Eurostat. In January year on year, industrial production declined by 6.7% in the euro area and by 5.7% in the EU.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.6%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.7%.

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

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.1%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 2.7%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London was flat. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.5%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 1.5%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.31%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 1.3% to $82.99 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 3.2% to 13.24, 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.