07:41 AM EDT, 03/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Monday, as traders mulled possible tariff moderation from the Trump Administration and again favored defense stocks.

Bank and tech issues also gained while food shares lagged.

Investors eyed Wall Street futures signaling green but choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, the Eurozone flash composite purchasing managers index, which measures the continent's service and manufacturing industries, was 50.4 in March, up from 50.2 in February and inching further above the 50-marker that separates growth from contraction, according to S&P Global.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.7%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 1.4%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.3%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.9%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.3%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.5%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.78%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 0.6% to $72.04 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.1% to 19.49, indicating marginally 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.