07:43 AM EDT, 06/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly lower midday Wednesday as traders sought clarity on recent China-US trade negotiations.

President Donald Trump this week is expected approve a "framework" to resolve China trade issues, said US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. China President Xi Jinping must also sign onto the agreement.

Bank stocks gained on continental trading floors, while retail issues lagged.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, but solidly higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, the latter on prospects for improved China-US trade relations.

The European Central Bank's recent reductions in policy rates will guard against continental inflation getting stuck below 2% in coming seasons, ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane said in Dublin, reported Reuters and other media outlets.

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

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.2%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.5%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.4%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 1.6%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was flat, as was the FTSE 100 in London. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 0.7%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.54%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.2% to $67.69 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.7% to 17.62, 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.