European stock prices are higher in midday trading Thursday.

London's Financial Times index is up just over one-half of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is more than six-tenths of one percent higher, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is up nearly one-half of one percent.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is virtually unchanged.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained more than one-quarter of one percent to finish at 8,793.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell nearly three-quarters of one percent to finish the day's trading at 19,913.

Gold is trading at $1,839.38 an ounce.

The dollar is trading higher against other major currencies.