European stock prices are higher in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times index is up nearly three-quarters of one percent. The CAC-40 in Paris is up four-tenths of one percent, and trading on the DAX index in Frankfurt is eight-tenths of one percent higher.

In New York, the S&P futures contract is down six points, indicating a lower opening.

Tokyo's Nikkei index rose two and one-quarter percent to finish at 8,864.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index soared nearly one and one-half percent to finish the day's trading at 19,455.

Gold is trading at $1,789.25 an ounce.

The dollar is mixed in trading against other major currencies.