European stock prices are higher in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times index is up nearly one-quarter of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is up a fraction of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is up four-tenths of one percent.

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained close to three-quarters of one percent to finish at 10,138.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared nearly one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,726.

Gold is trading at $1,520.42 an ounce.

The dollar is trading higher against other major currencies.