07:52 AM EDT, 07/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Tuesday as traders joined the global tech rebound and shrugged off Persian Gulf uncertainties.

Markets also expect the European Central Bank (ECB) to hold rates steady at its Thursday policy session, with the ECB Watch Tool assigning a slim 8% chance the central bank will boost rates to 2.50%, from the present 2.25%.

Tech and bank stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while food and property shares lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures flashing green, and higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, including a 3.3% rise on Tokyo's Nikkei 225, led by tech-sector gains.

In economic news, the Economic Sentiment Index for the euro area logged at 23.4 in June, up from 9.5 in May, and striking the highest level in five months, reported ZEW.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.4% at $90.45 a barrel, in midday trades.

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

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.8%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 0.7%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.8%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 1.1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.1%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.8%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 3.17%.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 5.2% at 17.02, 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.