European stock markets were higher in midday trading Wednesday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was up a fifth of a percent to 5,535. The CAC-40 in Paris was up nearly a quarter of a percent to 3,182. And the DAX in Frankfurt was up nearly half a percent at 6,073.

The S&P futures contract was up 7 points, indicating a higher opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index lost two-tenths of a percent to close at 8,748.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up half of a percent to end at 19,066.

Gold was trading at $1,711.00 an ounce.

The dollar was trading lower against other major currencies.