07:40 AM EDT, 09/21/2023 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked lower midday Thursday as traders weighed a Bank of England decision hold a key policy rate steady at 5.25%, but hawkish commentary on Wednesday from the US Federal Reserve.

Oil and tech stocks led broad market declines.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling red and lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

The Swiss National Bank also announced it would leave its key policy rate unchanged, at 1.75%.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was down 1.1% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 1.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 1.5%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.3%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.6%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Insurance Index declined 0.9%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 1.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London was off 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 1.5%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 1.4%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.73%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.7% to $92.89 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 9.3% to 16.85, but still 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. The volatility index had notched over the 30-marker in late September.

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