07:47 AM EDT, 09/02/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked lower midday Tuesday as traders weighed rising bond yields, soaring gold prices, and possibly tighter global petroleum markets following recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities.

Property and retail stocks led broad market losses on continental trading floors, although oil issues held firm.

Yields on 30-year UK government bonds reached 5.68%, the highest in 27 years, as investor concerns regarding inflation and British debt loads came to the fore.

Gold traded near $3,480 an ounce midday, just off fresh record all-time highs set in morning action.

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

In central bank news, European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Gediminas Simkus said, "there is clearly more room to ease further than there is to tighten," and that another ECB interest-rate cut is likely on the horizon, in an interview posted on the Econostream news website.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.9% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 1.7%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 1.1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was steady, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index fell 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 2.8%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was down 2.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 1.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.5%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 eased 1.3%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.79%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.6% at $69.25 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 7.3% to 18.95, but still 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.