Tech Strength, Soft Oil Elevate European Bourses Midday

07:46 AM EDT, 09/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately higher midday Tuesday as traders favored tech shares and weighed easing global crude prices. Food stocks also led gains on continental trading floors, while oil shares lagged. Brent crude oil futures traded down 1.6% to $98.70 a barrel in midday action. Saudi Arabia has restarted crude flow through its war-damaged East-West Pipeline and could resume exports from the Red Sea on Tuesday, Reuters reported. Investors also eyed Wall Street futures in the green, and moderately higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges. Kingfisher shares rose 9.7% midday after the UK-based home improvement retailer raised its fiscal full-year adjusted profit outlook, after reporting a strong H1. The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.4% mid-session. The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.2%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.3%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index eased 1.1%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 1.1%. The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.1%. On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.6%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.8%. Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower at 3.44%. The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 0.2% at 17.44, 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.