European stock prices are lower in midday trading Wednesday.

London's Financial Times index is down nearly three-quarters of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is down one-half of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is down more than one-quarter of one percent.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is down seven points, indicating a lower opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained more than one percent to finish at 10,082.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost just over one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,518.

Gold is trading at $1,510.83 an ounce.

The dollar is trading lower against other major currencies.