European stock prices are higher in midday trading Tuesday.

London's Financial Times index is up about one-quarter of one percent. The CAC 40 in Paris is up about one-half of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is up more than one-half of one percent.

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained two-thirds of one percent to finish at 9,443. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost one-third of one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,869.

Gold is trading at $1,548.57 an ounce, up $4.

The dollar is mixed in trading against other major currencies.