07:42 AM EDT, 08/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Monday as market sentiments from last week's rallies were sustained and traders weighed prospects for lower interest rates.

Retail and bank stocks led gainers, while food shares lagged.

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

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was 0.2% higher, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.3%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, edged 0.3% higher, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index rose 1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London was steady. The CAC 40 in Paris was 0.3% higher, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 1%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.23%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were down 0.8% at $79.08 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 3.9% at 15.07, 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.