European stock prices are higher in midday trading Wednesday.

London's Financial Times index is up nearly two percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is up 2.7 percent, and the DAX index in Frankfurt is up nearly three percent.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is up 13 points, indicating a higher opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained two percent to finish at 8,763.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 1.7 percent to finish the day's trading at 20,048.

Gold is trading at $1,835.78 an ounce.

The dollar is trading lower against other major currencies.