07:36 AM EDT, 08/15/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday, as traders awaited market catalysts, and results from the pending Ukraine peace talks, slated to take place in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Food stocks led gainers on continental trading floors, while tech issues lagged.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, and choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges, although Tokyo's Nikkei 225 Index struck a fresh all-time record high after a relatively strong Q2 GDP report from Tokyo.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.2% mid-session.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.4%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index rose 0.5%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.4%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was steady.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London rose 0.1%, eyeing a new record zenith. The CAC 40 in Paris lifted 0.6%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.5%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.74%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.7%, at $66.43 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.5% to 15.75, 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.