06:58 AM EST, 02/03/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Tuesday, undergirded by stabilizing commodities prices and a generally good earnings season.

Bank stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while tech and retail shares lagged.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the green, and rallies on Asian exchanges overnight, with Seoul rising 6.8% and Tokyo gaining 3.9%, both striking fresh all-time zeniths on tech- and AI-strength.

In economic news, the European Central Bank (ECB) reported that banks in the eurozone reported an "unexpected net tightening" of credit standards for commercial and consumer lending in Q4. International trade concerns were cited for bank wariness.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1% mid-session, testing a record-high close.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 2%, bucking global trends, while the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 1%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 0.2%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.8%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.5%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was down 1.3%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.2%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.4%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.1%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 2.89%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were little changed at $66.41 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 2.5% at 17.66, 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.

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