07:46 AM EDT, 08/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked largely sideways midday Wednesday, as traders digested the latest batch of earnings releases and awaited clarity on the US Trump Administration's plans to possibly levy "secondary" tariffs on Russian international commerce.

Bank, property and oil stocks led gainers on the continent, while tech and food issues lagged.

Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, and choppy closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, retail sales increased by 0.3% in June from May, in the euro area and also the broader European Union, Eurostat reported. In June on year, retail sales were 3.1% higher in both the euro area and the EU.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.1% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.4%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.9%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was up 0.7%, but the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index fell 0.5%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.7%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 0.3%.

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

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.64%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.6% at $68.72 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.4% to 18.52, 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.