European stock markets were lower in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was down seven-tenths of a percent , to 5,830. The CAC-40 in Paris was down one percent , to 3,677. And the DAX in Frankfurt was down nine-tenths of a percent , at 7,125.

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

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index lost seven-tenths of a percent , to close at 9,833.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped six-tenths of a percent , to end at 22,440.

Gold was trading at $1,614.45 an ounce.

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