European stock markets were lower in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was down nine-tenths of a percent , to 4,995. The CAC-40 in Paris dropped 1.39 percent , to 2,743. And the DAX in Frankfurt fell 1.71 percent , at 5,076.

The S&P futures contract was down 10 points, indicating a lower opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Japanese markets were closed Friday for a national holiday .

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 1.36 percent , to end at 17,668.

Gold was trading at $1,709.07 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar slipped against other major currencies.