07:40 AM EDT, 05/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses were mixed around midday Tuesday as investors continue to monitor tensions in the Middle East after new US military strikes on Iran.

Wall Street futures were advancing premarket, while major Asian markets closed the day in the red.

In regional news, the Confederation of British Industry distributive trade survey's retail sales balance improved to -46% in May from -68% in the prior month, according to published data.

Export expectations in Germany weakened further this month, as the industry outlook "remains challenging" amid ongoing geopolitical instability, the ifo Institute said.

Producer prices in Spain jumped 8.3% year over year in April, following a revised 3.1% increase the month prior, data from the National Statistics Institute showed.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was down 0.2%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index fell by 1.1%, while the Stoxx 600 Banks Index was 0.3% higher.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index declined by 0.2% and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index was down 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, advanced by 0.5%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London was 0.6% higher. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.9%, and Spain's IBEX 35 was marginally advancing.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were little changed.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were 2.6% higher at $98.59 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.4% to 19.77. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.