07:42 AM EDT, 09/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked evenly midday Friday as traders awaited fresh market catalysts and weighed reports of new European Union economic sanctions on Russia.

Bank stocks led gainers, while tech and retail issues gave up some of recent gains.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, but lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In other news, the European Commission has presented a new package of economic sanctions against Russia for approval by member states, as the bloc increases the pressure on Moscow over its war on Ukraine, reported RTE news.

The new sanctions will target crypto and banks, and speed up the phase-out of Russian fossil-fuel imports, reported RTE.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.7%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.4%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was flat, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index rose 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.2%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was down 0.5%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was off 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London was flat. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.2%, 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 0.1% at $67.39 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 0.2% to 15.45, 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.