European bourses tracked higher midday Tuesday as tech issues again showed strength, and as Persian Gulf turmoil somewhat abated.
Bank and oil stocks also led gains on continental trading floors, while food shares lagged.
Additionally, investors eyed Wall Street futures in the green, and higher closes overnight on Asian exchanges.
Expanded measures to protect the European Union's steel industry will become effective Wednesday, the European Commission announced. The duty-free import quota for 26 categories of steel products will be decreased by an average of 47%, to 18.3 million tons per year, while out-of-quota imports will be subject to a 50% tariff, advised the commission.
The pan-continental Stoxx Europe 600 Index was up 1.1% mid-session.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Technology Index was up 1.6%, and the Stoxx 600 Banks Index gained 1.1%.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas Index rose 1.2%, while the Stoxx 600 Europe Food and Beverage Index declined 0.7%.
The REITE, a European REIT index, rose 0.2%.
On the national market indexes, Germany's DAX was up 1.5%, and the FTSE 100 in London gained 1.2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was down 0.6%, and Spain's IBEX 35 lifted 0.7%.
Yields on benchmark 10-year German bonds were steady, near 2.89%.
Front-month North Sea Brent crude-oil futures were down 0.2% at $73.80 a barrel.
The Euro Stoxx 50 volatility index was down 1.9% at 16.90, 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.
