07:46 AM EDT, 04/08/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Monday, as traders shrugged off modestly rising interest rates to weigh prospects for a sustained economic expansion in the US, after a strong March jobs report from Washington Friday.

Retail and oil stocks led gainers, while food issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures marginally signaling red, with higher closes overnight on most Asian exchanges.

German industrial production in February rose a seasonally adjusted 2.1% from January, though it was down

4.9% on the year, reported Destatis.

Euro area investor confidence strengthened in April, Sentix reported. The euro area investor confidence index improved to negative 5.9 in April from negative 10.5 in March, and striking the highest level since February 2022.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.3% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.3%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.5%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.8%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.4%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.3%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index gained 0.5%.

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

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.452%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.9% to $90.37 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 2.9% to 15.66, 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.

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