07:41 AM EDT, 08/22/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Thursday as risk-on sentiments prevailed after the Wednesday release of minutes from the US Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting pointed to possible interest-rate cuts.

Retail and property issues led the upside, while oil issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling green, and unevenly higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

The flash Eurozone composite purchasing managers index (PMI) output index logged at 51.2 in August, up from 50.2 in July and rising further above the 50-marker that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

The composite index captures both the manufacturing and service sectors.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.4%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.3%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.4%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.3%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.8%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 1.4%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.3%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.7%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.22%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 0.7% to $76.56 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 1.9% to 15.77, but still 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.