07:01 AM EST, 12/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Tuesday as traders weighed political turmoils in Berlin and Paris, and the ongoing war in Eastern Europe.

in political news, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a recent confidence vote in parliament, triggering an election in February, seven months ahead of schedule.

In Paris, newly appointed Prime Minister Francois Bayrou faces the same national budget and tax snarls that ousted his predecessor, Michel Barnier.

In other news, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) planted the bomb that killed senior Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the military's chemical, biological and radiological weapons unit, reported the Kyiv Independent. A response from Moscow is expected.

Despite stresses, tech and retail stocks gained, while oil issues lagged.

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

The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for Germany rose to 15.7 in December, the highest in four months, gaining from 7.4 in November, the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) reported. The ZEW index measures percentage of experts who are optimistic, minus the percentage who are pessimistic.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.3% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.2%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.6%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 1%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.8%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.2%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index inclined 0.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London was down 0.7%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.3%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lost 1%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.23%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.8%, to $73.33 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.5% to 14.21, 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.