European stock markets were lower in midday trading Tuesday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was down one and a quarter percent at 5,285. The CAC-40 in Paris was down more than one and a half percent to 3,186. And the DAX in Frankfurt was down two and a half percent at 5,869.

The S&P futures contract was down 15 points, indicating a lower opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index gained two-tenths of one percent to close at 9,107.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost a quarter of one percent to end at 20,212.

Gold was trading at $1,776.18 an ounce.

The dollar was lower against other major currencies.