08:05 AM EDT, 03/15/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday, on the cusp of fresh record-high closes, as traders weighed media reports that European Central Bank policy makers possibly have rate-cuts on the table for 2024.

Property and bank stocks gained, while tech issues lagged.

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

The British public's expectations for inflation in the next 12 months, at 3%, slipped to the lowest level in nearly three years, and are close to long-term averages, the Bank of England reported citing its survey.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.3% mid-session, and eying a record-high close

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.5%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.3%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.8%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.4%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.5%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 1.3%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.42%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.5% to $84.95 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 3.2% to 12.90, 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.