Bank, Insurance Shares Dampen European Bourses Midday

07:51 AM EDT, 09/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European bourses tracked moderately lower midday Tuesday, undercut by interest-rate sensitive bank and insurance industry shares, which sagged on prospects for rate cuts by major global central banks, including the US Federal Reserve.

Retail and tech stocks bucked trends, to notch gains.

Investors also eyed Wall Street futures modestly in the green, and higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges, with all-time zeniths set in Seoul, Taiwan and Tokyo in tech-sector rallies.

In economic news, the ZEW indicator of economic sentiment for the eurozone rose to 26.1 in September from 25.1 last month. About 52% of surveyed analysts in September expect little change in economic activity, 37% predict improvement and 11% anticipate deterioration.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was off 0.3% mid-session.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 0.9%, but the Stoxx 600 Banks Index lost 0.9%. The Stoxx 600 Insurance Index lost 1.4%.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index was off 0.3%, and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index fell 0.6%.

The REITE, a European REIT index, eased 0.3%, but the Stoxx Europe 600 Retail Index was up 0.4%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London lost 0.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 0.1%, and Spain's IBEX 35 dropped 0.8%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were lower, near 2.70%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were up 0.5% at $67.75 a barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 1.1% at 15.68, 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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