European stock prices are higher in midday trading Thursday.

London's Financial Times index is up two and one-half percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is nearly five percent higher, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is up just over four and one-quarter percent.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is up 25 points, indicating a higher opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained two percent to finish at 8,927.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared three and one-quarter percent to finish the day's trading at 19,689.

Gold is trading at $1,722.43 an ounce.

The dollar is trading lower against other major currencies.