07:37 AM EDT, 07/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Thursday as traders weighed Persian Gulf turmoil, tech valuations and awaited earnings-season results.

Oil and tech stocks led declines on continental trading floors, while bank shares inched higher.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the red, and largely lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges, in a chip-sector retreat.

In economic news, UK gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.1% in May, said the Office for National Statistics. On a quarterly basis, the UK economy is estimated to have expanded by 0.7% in the three months to May.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.6% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.8%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index eased 0.9%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.2%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.4%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.8%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.3%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.8%, and Spain's IBEX 35 eased 0.6%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 3.14%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.3% at $84.66 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.5% at 17.34, 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.