07:45 AM EDT, 07/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses were largely steady midday Friday after Wall Street struck fresh record highs Thursday, and as the unfolding earnings season on the continent met with investor approval.

Shares in Saab surged nearly 16% midday, after the Swedish aerospace and defense enterprise posted higher-than-expected Q2 earnings, and boosted guidance.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, but largely higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, the European Union has approved "one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date," aimed against Moscow's military industry, oil, and financial sectors, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said in a social media post on X.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was little changed mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index, were also largely stable.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.8%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index rose 0.3%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.2%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 0.9%.

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

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.69%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.7% at $70.01 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 0.1% at 17.44, 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.