07:38 AM EDT, 09/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked solidly higher midday Monday as traders weighed easing oil bills, and a possible decrease in Beijing-Washington tensions after official announcements that China President Xi Jinping will visit the US and President Donald Trump from Sept. 23 through Sept. 25.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 2.6% to $101.17 a barrel, in midday action.

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

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 1.1% mid-session.

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

In economic news, "the German economy is likely to lose momentum temporarily in the third quarter of 2026. Following a significant increase in the previous two quarters, real GDP will grow only slightly in seasonally adjusted terms in the current quarter," reported Bundesbank. Higher interest rates, energy bills and a water-drought were cited, in part, for slow economic growth.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 2.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 1.7% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index eased 0.1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.4%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.2%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 1.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.9%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 1.1%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 3.45%.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 3.6% at 17.67, 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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