European stock markets were lower in midday trading Monday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was down one percent , to 5,014. The CAC-40 in Paris slipped half a percent , to 3,111. And the DAX in Frankfurt fell more than two percent to 5,782.

The S&P futures contract was up 17 points, indicating a higher opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei index was down 1.68 percent to close at 8,944.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slumped 5.66 percent to end at 19,331.

Gold was trading at $1,762.95 an ounce.

The dollar was mixed against other major currencies.