ECB Rate Outlook, Oil Limit European Bourses Midday

07:48 AM EDT, 09/10/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked modestly lower midday Thursday as traders awaited a rate decision from the European Central Bank (ECB) and weighed rising crude prices. The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.1% mid-session. Oil stocks led modest gains on continental trading floors, while tech shares lagged. Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 1.1% at $102.31 a barrel in midday trades. The ECB is expected to raise its key policy rate to 2.50% from 2.25% in an afternoon decision, in a bid to cool the continent's inflation rate. Investors also eyed largely muted Wall Street futures, and mostly lower closes overnight on Asian exchanges. In the sectors, the Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.8%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.1% in mid-session trading. The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 0.3%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.2%. The REITE, a European REIT index, was steady. On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was steady, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.3%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.2%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.3%. Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 3.45%. The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 13% at 18.74, but still 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.