European stock markets were mostly higher in midday trading Monday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was nearly unchanged at 5,130. The CAC-40 in Paris rose 1.4 percent to 3,131. And the DAX in Frankfurt climbed 1.2 percent to 5,602.

The S&P futures contract was up 12 points, indicating a higher opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index rose six-tenths of a percent to close at 8,851.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 1.5 percent to end at 19,871.

Gold was trading at $1,816.53 an ounce.

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