07:34 AM EDT, 10/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked lower midday Tuesday as traders weighed sustained civil unrest in France, higher crude prices, and unresolved geopolitical hostilities in the Middle East.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.6% mid-session.

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

Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.5% at $111.16 a barrel, in midday trades.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the red, and lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges.

In economic news, seasonally adjusted construction output in the euro area rose by 1.8% in August from July, and by 1.4% on year, Eurostat reported. In the broader European Union, construction rose 2% in August from July and by 2.6% on year.

In the sectors, the Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 1.5%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 1.4%, in mid-session action.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 0.2%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.7%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.7%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.9%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.6%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.9%, and Spain's IBEX 35 eased 0.6%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 3.43%.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 7.5% at 20.32, 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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