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Earnings Nudge European Bourses Higher Midday

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European bourses tracked modestly higher midday Tuesday as traders weighed corporate earnings results against higher oil prices and rising interest rates.

Oil and tech stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while food and property shares lagged.

Shares in Alcon rose 5.5% midday after the Swiss-American eye products maker reported Q2 earnings and revenue above expectations, and boosted guidance.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, and lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.2% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.8%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.2%.

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

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher at 3.18%, near the highest since 2011.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were 0.1% higher at $87.80 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 2% at 15.91, 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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