European stock prices are higher in midday trading Wednesday.

London's Financial Times index is up nearly one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is up more than one-quarter of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is up nearly two percent.

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained just over one percent to finish at 9,039.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared well over two and one-quarter percent to finish the day's trading at 19,784.

Gold is trading at $1,761.02 an ounce.

The dollar is trading lower against other major currencies.