07:44 AM EDT, 03/22/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked sideways midday Friday after Asian markets turned in choppy sessions, marked by property- and tech-sector declines on China exchanges.

Benchmark interest rates eased, with yields on 10-year German sovereign bonds crossing under 3.40%.

In Europe, food and oil stocks gained, while tech issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures modestly signaling green.

Germany's business climate index rose to 87.8 in March from 85.5 in February, reported the Ifo Institute.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was steady mid-session, hewing close to an all-time record high.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 1.1%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.3%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.6% and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.5%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.4%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.3%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.7%. The CAC 40 in Paris was flat and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.7%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.37%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.1% to $85.84 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 2% to 12.43, 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.