07:43 AM EDT, 03/14/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately midday Thursday, ascending fresh record pinnacles, as traders mulled possibilities of rate-cuts by the European Central Bank and other major global central banks.

Food and retail stocks gained, while bank and tech issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling green, but uneven closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

Switzerland's producer price index fell 0.3% on year in February, and rose 0.1% on month, reported the Federal Statistical Office.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.3% mid-session, possibly en route to a record-high close.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.2% and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.2%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.7%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.8%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.7%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.9%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.3% and near a record-high, while the FTSE 100 in London was flat. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.9%, also in record-high territory, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.2%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 2.36%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.7% to $84.63 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 6.2% to 12.32, 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.