European stock prices are lower in midday trading Thursday.

London's Financial Times index is down nearly one-quarter of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is down one-tenth of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is down nearly one-tenth of one percent.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is up over one point, indicating a higher opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index gained a fraction of one percent to finish at 10,010.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost a fraction of one percent to finish the day's trading at 21,987.

Gold is trading at $1,601.43 an ounce.

The dollar is trading lower against other major currencies.