07:33 AM EDT, 10/22/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked lower midday Tuesday as traders await earnings reports from key companies.

Food and beverage stocks were down, and property issues lagged while the oil and gas sector was up slightly on rebounding oil prices amid Middle East war tensions.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling declining shares, as well as mostly lower closes on Asian exchanges.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was steady 0.8% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.8%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.7%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was flat, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.7%.

The REITE, a European REIT index fell 1.8% while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 1.3%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.3%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.7%. The CAC 40 in Paris was also off 0.7%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 1.2%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.4%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.9% to $74.95 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 3% to 19.42, 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.