European stock markets were higher in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was up 1.02 percent , to 5,732. The CAC-40 in Paris was up one percent , to 3,826. And the DAX in Frankfurt was up nine-tenths of a percent , at 7,213.

The S&P futures contract was up one point, indicating a flat opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nine-tenths of a percent , to close at 9,679.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped 1.90 percent , to end at 22,172.

Gold was trading at $1,517.75 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar slipped against other major currencies.