07:49 AM EDT, 08/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked sideways midday Tuesday as traders mulled geopolitical tensions and awaited fresh catalysts.

Food, bank and oil stocks gained, while tech, retail and property issues lagged.

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

Germany's consumer confidence index is expected to post at negative 22 in September, down from negative 18.6 in August, reported the market research institute GfK.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was off 0.3%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.6%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.4%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.6%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.4%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 0.5%.

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

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.29%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.5% to $79.99 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1% to 15.51, 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.