06:52 AM EST, 02/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Thursday following a solid earnings report from banking giant HSBC.

Bank, tech, retail, and oil stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while food shares lagged.

HSBC shares traded up 5.8% midday after the London-based lender reported Q4 financial results and outlined plans to streamline operations.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the green, and higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, including all-time zeniths set on equity indices in Seoul, Taiwan, and Tokyo.

In economic news, Spain's producer price index (PPI) fell by 2.9% on the year in January due to lower energy bills, but was up 0.5% on the month, reported the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.5% mid-session, testing a fresh record high.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.9%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 2%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 1.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.1%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 1.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.6%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 2.72%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 0.5% at $70.93 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 2% at 18.69, 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.

http://www.mtnewswires.com
Copyright © 2026 MT Newswires. All rights reserved. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.