European stock prices are lower in midday trading Wednesday.

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

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index fell one-half of one percent to finish at 10,047.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost one-tenth of one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,542.

Gold is trading at $1,617.88 an ounce.

The dollar is mixed against other major currencies.