European stock markets were lower in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was down seven-tenths of a percent , to 5,096. The CAC-40 in Paris was down eight-tenths of a percent , to 3,093. And the DAX in Frankfurt was down 1.95 percent , at 5,475.

The S&P futures contract was up slightly , indicating a flat opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index gained three-tenths of a percent , to close at 8,798.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped nine-tenths of a percent , to end at 19,583.

Gold was trading at $1,787.40 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar was up against other major currencies.