07:32 AM EDT, 03/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Tuesday as traders mulled reports of some oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and shrugged off news of fresh Iranian strikes on United Arab Emirates oil infrastructure.

Oil and property stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while tech shares lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the red, but higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, Germany's Economic Sentiment Indicator index declined sharply in March to a negative 0.5, down from a positive 58.3 in February, the Center for European Economic Research (ZEW) reported. The "escalation" of Middle East hostilities and resulting higher oil prices were cited.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.9%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.6%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 1.4%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.8%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 0.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.7%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.6%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.9%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.92%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 2.9% at $103.08 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.5% at 27.54, 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.