07:15 AM EST, 11/05/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Tuesday as traders digested a solid earnings season, but pondered global geopolitics and the pending US national election.

Tech and retail stocks led limited gains, while oil issues lagged.

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

S&P Global reported that the UK services purchasing managers index (PMI) was 52.0 in October, down from 52.4 in September but still above the 50-marker that separates growth from contraction.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.1%.

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

The REITE, a European REIT index, was flat, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.3%.

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

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.43%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 0.5% to $75.47 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.8% to 20.58, indicating marginally 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.

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