European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday as traders' risk-on moods again prevailed, following strong equity rallies Thursday. All-time record-highs were being tested on Frankfurt's exchange, and on the broader indices, on the outlook for government stimulus and monetary accommodation in China and Japan.
Food and oil stocks led gainers, while bank and property issues lagged. Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling red, but higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, including sharp gains in Hong Kong and Tokyo. In economic news, Spain's consumer price index rose 1.5% in September from a year earlier, and France's September CPI rose 1.2%, the nation's statistical offices reported.
The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.3% mid-session, and was testing all-time record highs on the broad index. The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.7%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.1%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.8%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.9%.
The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.01%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.4%. On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX 30 was up 0.9% to all-time zenith levels, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.5%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.3%. Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.156%.
Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.1% to $71.17 per barrel. The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 1.01% to 16.38, 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..