European stock prices are mixed in midday trading Thursday.

London's Financial Times index is up just over one-quarter of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is down just over three-quarters of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is virtually unchanged from Wednesday's close.

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index dropped more than one-half of one percent to finish at 8,982.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost one percent to finish the day's trading at 19,595.

Gold is trading at $1,786.14 an ounce.

The dollar is lower in trading against other major currencies.