Oil, Nvidia Steady European Bourses Midday

07:38 AM EDT, 08/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked largely sideways midday Wednesday as traders mulled media reports of a possible Oman-Iran deal to open the Strait Hormuz, and took positions ahead of the pending bellwether earnings report from semiconductor-industry colossus Nvidia (NVDA). Bank stocks led gains on continental trading floors, while oil and tech shares lagged. Investors also eyed muted Wall Street futures, but higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges. Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 2.6% at $85.03 a barrel in midday action. The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 0.1% mid-session. The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was down 0.8%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 0.6%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index eased 1.6%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index inclined 0.4%. The REITE, a European REIT index, fell 0.3%. On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 0.1%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.1%. The CAC 40 in Paris was up 0.4%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.2%. Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were higher, near 3.21%. The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 0.2% at 16.06, 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.