European stock prices are lower in midday trading Wednesday.

London's Financial Times index is down just over one-half of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is one and one-fourth percent lower, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is down nearly one and one-quarter percent.

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nearly one-quarter of one percent to finish at 8,741.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost one percent to finish the day's trading at 18,824.

Gold is trading at $1,807.02 an ounce.

The dollar is trading mixed against other major currencies.