07:36 AM EDT, 03/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses edged higher midday Monday as traders weighed stabilizing oil prices and media reports of plans to open the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global crude supplies transit.

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

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures flashing green, and mostly higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In geopolitical news, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said the bloc plans to discuss how to open the Strait of Hormuz, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1% mid-session, after a roller-coaster morning.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was flat, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.3%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.1%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 1.2%, while the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was down 0.1%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.3%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.4%. The CAC 40 in Paris was steady, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.1%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.95%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.1% at $103.24 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 4.3% at 29.02, still indicating above-average volatility for European stock markets in the next 30 days, a negative signal. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.

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