07:35 AM EDT, 03/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Tuesday as traders await clarity from Washington on evolving international trade policies, and weigh the Russian-Ukraine war.

Property and oil issues gained, while food and retail stocks lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling green, but mostly lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, the European Union spends less than 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, but it must boost outlays to more than 3%, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advised the European Parliament on Tuesday.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.1%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 1%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.9%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.4%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.9%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was steady, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 0.4%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.87%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.1% to $70.04 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.8% to 23.36, indicating above-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a negative signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.