European stock prices are higher in midday trading Wednesday.

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

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained nearly one and one-quarter percent to finish at 10,006.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up nearly one-half of one percent to finish the day's trading at 22,004.

Gold is trading at $1,589.43 an ounce.

The dollar is trading lower against other major currencies.