European stock prices are lower in midday trading Tuesday.

London's Financial Times, the CAC-40 in Paris and the DAX index in Frankfurt are all down around three-quarters of one percent.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is down more than five points, indicating a lower opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nearly two percent to finish at 8,774.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared nearly two and one-half percent to finish the day's trading at 18,142.

Gold is trading at $1,664.30 an ounce.

The dollar is trading lower against other major currencies.