08:26 AM EDT, 08/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday as markets weighed media reports that US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet as soon as next week, to negotiate a possible ceasefire in the Ukraine-Russian war.

Property, food and bank stocks led gainers, while tech issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures moderately in the green, but choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.4%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.9%.

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

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was also up 1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was flat, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.8%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 2.64%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.5% at $66.77 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 2.6% to 17.60, 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.