European stock markets were lower in midday trading Monday.
London's Financial Times 100 index was down more than 2 percent , to 5,257. The CAC-40 in Paris dropped 2.7 percent , to 2,950. And the DAX in Frankfurt fell almost 3 percent , at 5,408.
The S&P futures contract was down 21 points, indicating a lower opening for U.S. markets.
In Asia, Japanese markets were closed Monday for a national holiday .
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 2.76 percent , to end at 18,918.
Gold was trading at $1,817.63 an ounce.
The U.S. dollar was lower against other major currencies.