07:52 AM EDT, 05/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Friday as traders awaited clarity on US-Europe trade talks, and after a UK central banker called for easing interest rates.

A US federal appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump's global import levies to stand, at least temporarily, blocking an earlier ruling against the tariffs, issued Wednesday by a US federal trade court.

European Union trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said in an X post that he talked with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. "Our time and effort fully invested, as delivering forward-looking solutions remains a top EU priority," Sefcovic wrote. "Staying in permanent contact."

Food and oil stocks led the gainers on continent trading floors, while tech issues lagged.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, and lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, Bank of England policymaker Alan Taylor played down inflation risks and warned of economic sluggishness in an interview with the Financial Times. Taylor advised the BoE move to interest rates lower.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.2%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.6%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 1%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.8%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1.1%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index advanced 0.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.9%, and the FTSE 100 in London rose 0.7%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 gained 0.6%.

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

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.9% to $63.92 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 2.2% at 18.50, 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.

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