06:47 AM EST, 01/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Thursday as traders weighed the uneven retailing sector, and took profits on tech issues.

Bank stocks gained, and oil shares inched higher.

Shares in Germany's Puma traded down 18.7% midday, after the athletic gear and shoemaker reported a sluggish Q4, and disclosed plans to cut costs.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling red, and choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In business news, CEO Christian Klein of the German software giant SAP told CNBC that Europe needs to match the $500 billion US Stargate Project plan to build-out AI infrastructure.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 1.2%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.2%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.7%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.3%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.4%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.4%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.52%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.3% to $79.22 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 2.4% to 15.10, 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.