08:57 AM EDT, 10/02/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly lower midday Wednesday as traders mulled Middle East tensions and higher crude oil prices.

Petroleum stocks gained, and tech issues held ground, while property and retail shares lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures signaling red, and mixed closes overnight on Asian exchanges, although Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 6.2% on prospects for greater economic stimulus from Beijing.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.1%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 2.3%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.5%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 1.6%, and the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index declined 1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX 30 was down 0.6%, and the FTSE 100 in London was up 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.1%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 0.5%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.107%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 2.7% to $75.55 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 2.3% to 20.55, 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.