Most European Bourses Decline Midday Tuesday, Tracking Global Markets Ahead of US Jobs Report

06:40 AM EST, 12/16/2025 (MT Newswires) -- European stock markets were mostly declining midday Tuesday, with investors remaining cautious ahead of the US jobs data release.

Asian markets declined at closing, while Wall Street futures were tracking lower hours before market open.

In regional news, the HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index stood at a three-month low of 51.9 in December, compared with the previous 52.8. On the other hand, research institute ZEW said the euro area's economic sentiment index climbed to 33.7 points in December from 25 points in November.

In the UK, flash data from S&P Global showed that Britain's private sector output accelerated in December, with the flash UK PMI Composite Output Index hitting a two-month high of 52.1.

The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was down 0.1% midday.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was 1% lower, while the Stoxx 600 Banks Index was up 0.3%. The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index declined by 0.9% and the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index was 0.1% higher.

The REITE, a European REIT index, advanced by 0.4%.

On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was down 0.3%; the FTSE 100 in London was 0.4% lower; CAC 40 in Paris was unchanged; and Spain's IBEX 35 declined by 0.2%.

Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were down 0.04%.

Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were 1.5% lower at $59.65 per barrel.

The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was up 3.1% at 15.56. A reading above 20 indicates choppier markets ahead, while below 20 suggests calmer exchanges.

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