FTSE 100 down 0.46%; DAX up 0.57%; CAC 40 up 0.20% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milan, 16 Aug - European shares were moderately higher at mid-session, extending a recent rebound amid strong global markets.

The Stoxx 600 index rose 0.31% and was up more than 2% so far this week, on track for its best performance since May 10.

In European stock market dealings most sectors were higher, with banks and auto shares among the biggest advancers.

The region's stock markets tracked gains on Wall Street overnight after US strong retail sales data fuelled hopes that concerns over a recession in the world's biggest economy were overblown.

In July, UK retail sales volumes rose by 0.5% month on month after falling 0.9% in June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

June sales were revised up from a 1.2% fall in the ONS's previous estimate.

Sales volumes rose by 1.1% in the three months to July, when compared with the three months to April.

At 1100 GMT the London FTSE 100 was was down 0.46% at 8,309 points, the Frankfurt DAX was up 0.57% at 18,285 points, the Paris CAC 40 up 0.20% at 7,438 points, while in Milan the FTSE MIB was up 1.98% at 32,967 points, and in Madrid the IBEX 35 was up 0.29% at 10,917 points.

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(RADIOCOR) 16-08-24 13:25:03 (0237) 5 NNNN