European stock markets were lower in midday trading Monday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was down three-tenths of a percent , to 5,918. The CAC-40 in Paris lost half a percent , to 3,824. And the DAX in Frankfurt dipped one-fourth of a percent , at 7,308.

The S&P futures contract was down 11 points, indicating a lower opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped eight-tenths of a percent to close at 10,050.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell seven-tenths of a percent to end at 22,293.

Gold was trading at $1,617.80 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar was mixed against other major currencies.