07:38 AM EDT, 08/09/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday, reacting to strong overnight stock market gains on Wall Street and in Asia.

A stronger-than-expected jobless claims report on Thursday eased concerns about possible weakness in the US economy.

Property and retail stocks led broad market rallies on the continent.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling green.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.7% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.5%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.4%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index also inclined 0.4%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1.7%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 1.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.4%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.5%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.4%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.8%.

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

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.4% to $79.45 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 3.9% to 20.78, indicating modestly above-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a negative signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.