European bourses tracked modestly but broadly higher midday Friday, as steady interest rates and oil prices gave a breather to equities.

Property and bank stocks led gains on continental trading floors.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.3% at $93.53 a barrel, in midday action.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the green, and mixed but largely higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, the flash Eurozone purchasing managers index (PMI) struck 52.1 in August, up from 52.0 in July, and inching further above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, reported S&P Global.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.1%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.4%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 0.1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.8%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.3%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.1%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.8%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 3.25%.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 3.8% at 16.79, 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.