07:45 AM EDT, 03/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Thursday as traders monitored unfolding developments in the Middle East war, oil prices, and the Strait of Hormuz, which remained closed to ship traffic.

Oil and retail stocks edged higher on continental trading floors, while bank shares lagged.

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

In economic news, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created "the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market," said the International Energy Agency in its latest monthly oil report.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.4% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.3%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 2.5%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 0.1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.7%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 0.3%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 eased 0.9%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.93%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude oil futures were up 5.8% at $97.34 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.9% at 29.84, but still indicating above-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a negative signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.