European stock markets were mixed in midday trading Tuesday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was up a third of a percent to 5,565. The CAC-40 in Paris slipped a quarter of a percent to 3,212. And the DAX in Frankfurt was up one percent at 6,119.

The S&P futures contract was up 6 points, indicating a higher opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index was down nearly one percent to close at 8,762.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose slightly more than one percent top end at 18,968.

Gold was trading at$1,661.88 an ounce.

The dollar was trading mostly higher against other major currencies.