European stock markets were higher in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times 100 index as up 1.10 percent , to 5,965. The CAC-40 in Paris was up more than one percent , to 3,858. And the DAX in Frankfurt was up six-tenths of a percent , at 7,337.

The S&P futures contract was up 10 points, indicating a higher opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index gained more than one percent , to close at 10,132.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped nearly three percent , to end at 22,445.

Gold was trading at $1,591.65 an ounce.

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