06:39 AM EST, 02/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Wednesday as traders awaited clarity on the Ukraine-Russia war and monitored higher interest rates.

Tech and oil stocks led gainers, while retail issues lagged.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German government bonds neared 2.55%, after nearly sinking below 2% late in 2023.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the red and choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

Weakness in the Eurozone's economy is more persistent than previously expected, European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Fabio Panetta said, speaking to the Italian Banking Association.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.3% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.1%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.4%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.4%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.3%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 1.4%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.7%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.5%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.8%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 0.8%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 0.5% to $76.24 per barrel.