07:45 AM EDT, 07/31/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly lower midday Thursday as traders weighed earnings reports and reviewed a decision by Japan's central bank to hold rates steady, on the heels of the US Federal Reserve's similar call on Wednesday.

Property and bank stocks led gainers, while tech and retail issues lagged.

Rolls-Royce shares gained 10% at midday after the British aerospace and defense company reported H1 earnings, and raised full-year 2025 guidance.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures pointing solidly higher, but choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June was 6.2%, unchanged from May, and down from 6.4% a year earlier, reported Eurostat.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.1%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.6%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was steady, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index rose 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.5%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was down 0.3%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.4%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.6%.

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

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.8% at $71.93 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 0.5% to 16.82, still 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.