07:34 AM EDT, 05/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly lower midday Wednesday as traders mulled the European Union-US trade outlook and awaited fresh catalysts. Benchmark government bond yields inched higher.

Retail, property and oil stocks gained, while food issues lagged.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, and uneven closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, eurozone consumers in April expected prices to rise 3.1% in the next 12 months, the European Central Bank reported in its April survey. In March, the eurozone consumers had expected prices to rise 2.9% in the year ahead. Consumer expectations in April for inflation three and five years ahead were unchanged from March at 2.5% and 2.1%, respectively, said the ECB.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was down 0.3% mid-session.

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

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

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.6%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.6%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.3% after closing at a record-high on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 in London was down 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.7%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.55%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.8% to $64.11 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.5% to 18.48, 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.