European stock markets were higher in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was up 1.31 percent , to 5,230. The CAC-40 in Paris was up 1.63 percent , to 3,140. And the DAX in Frankfurt was up 2.10 percent , at 5,919.

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

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index dipped two-tenths of a percent , to close at 8,964.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose a tenth of a percent , to end at 19,617.

Gold was trading at $1,752.85 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar slipped against other major currencies.