07:48 AM EDT, 07/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday as traders' focus returned to tech stocks and they noted rising equity futures in New York.

Oil stocks also led gains, while food and property shares lagged.

Investors reviewed Wall Street futures signaling green amid choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, The Central Bank of the Russian Federation raised its key interest rate to 18% from 16%, marking the highest level since April 2022 when it was pegged at 20%. The central bank cited rising inflation.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.5% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was 0.7% higher, while the Stoxx 600 Banks Index was flat.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.4%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, was down 0.1%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was 0.5% higher.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.3% and the FTSE 100 in London was 0.5% higher. The CAC 40 in Paris gained 0.9% and Spain's IBEX 35 was down 0.2%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.44%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were down 0.4% at $82.04 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 3.2% at 16.41, 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.