Germany's DAX index fell 1.00% intraday.

China A-shares extended morning gains into the mid-session as the ChiNext index rose 3.97% to trade above 4,200, a fresh high. At midday Shanghai Composite +0.56%, Shenzhen Composite +2.31%. Combined turnover on Shanghai and Shenzhen was 1.89 tln yuan for the half-day, up 78.9 bln yuan versus the previous session. Market breadth was weak: more than 3,400 stocks fell. Sector moves: fiber-optic names led gains with several stocks hitting daily limit-up; lab-grown diamond stocks rallied (including limit-ups and multiple >10% gains); semiconductor stocks were also active, with several names at limit-up and others rising over 10%.

ECB governing council member Wunsch said an Iran peace agreement would not change the rationale for ECB rate hikes.