08:00 AM EDT, 07/31/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked higher midday Wednesday as traders bought back into tech issues, and embraced oil stocks on prospects for higher crude prices following Middle East geopolitical tensions.

Property stocks also gained, while bank issues lagged.

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

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 2.6% in July 2024, up from 2.5% in June, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.9% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 2.8%, but the Stoxx600 Banks Index was flat.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 2.3%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1.2%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.3%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 1.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 1.2%, but Spain's IBEX 35 lost 0.2%.

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

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 2.8% to $79.30 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1% to 16.33, 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.