06:39 AM EST, 02/14/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses were mixed and muted midday Friday as traders weighed Ukraine peace initiatives and awaited fresh catalysts, leaving broad-market equity indices near record highs.

Tech stocks led gainers, while food issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures mildly signaling red and choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges, although Hong Kong gained 3.7% led by a rally in tech shares.

In economic news, Q4 gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.9% on the year in the euro area, and by 1.1% in the broader European Union, Eurostat reported.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.7%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.4%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.3%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.4%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was off 0.3%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 was flat.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 2.42%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were stable near $75.08 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.7% to 16.24, 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.