European stock prices are higher in midday trading Wednesday.

London's Financial Times index is up one-quarter of one percent. The CAC 40 in Paris is up six-tenths of one percent, and the DAX index in Frankfurt is one percent higher.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is down more than 7 points, indicating a lower opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index lost about 1 percent to finish at 8,640, wiping out gains made early in the day's trading.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index plunged 2 percent to finish the day's trading at 19,467.

Gold was trading at $1,844.32 an ounce, up $16.

The dollar was trading lower against other major currencies.