European stock prices are lower in midday trading Wednesday.

London's Financial Times index is down nearly one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is down nearly one-third of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is down nearly one percent.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is up more than four points, indicating a higher opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index plunged more than two percent to finish at 9,637.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost nearly two percent to finish the day's trading at 21,993.

Gold is trading at $1,666.17 an ounce.

The dollar is mixed in trading against other major currencies.