08:07 AM EDT, 10/02/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The global tech rally lifted European bourses midday Thursday, as traders again embraced AI- and semiconductor-related shares after an announcement that South Korea's Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and the US-based OpenAI plan to build ChatGPT Stargate-type data-centers in South Korea.

Retail shares joined tech stocks to lead broad market rallies on European trading floors. Easing oil prices and interest rates raised sentiments as well.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures flashing green, and higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges. South Korea's KOSPI index rose by 2.7% to strike a new all-time apex.

In economic news, Eurozone unemployment rate logged at 6.3% in August, up from 6.2%, Eurostat reported.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.8% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 2.6%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.3%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index rose 0.3%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, was flat, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 0.8%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 1.4%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 1.4%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.3%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.70%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.5% at $65.01 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.2% to 16.27, 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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