07:36 AM EDT, 03/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Thursday as traders awaited a rate decision from the Bank of England, and digested media reports from Ukraine and the Middle East.

Property, food and retail stocks gained, while bank and tech issues lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling red, and uneven closes overnight on Asian exchanges, with markets in Hong Kong and Shanghai falling after Beijing's central bank declined to cut interest rates, following a policy session.

In economic news, the Swiss National Bank cut its policy rate to 0.25% from 0.50%. In a statement, the central bank cited "low inflationary pressure and the heightened downside risks to inflation."

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.6% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.6%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 1.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.1%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.5%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.6%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 1.4%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 1%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 0.9%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.76%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.1% to $70.88 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 4.7% to 19.48, marginally 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.