European stock prices are higher in midday trading Friday.

London's Financial Times index, the DAX index in Frankfurt and the CAC-40 in Paris are all up nearly one percent.

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

Tokyo's Nikkei index lost a fraction of a percent to finish at 8,677.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained one quarter of a percent to finish the day's trading at 18,025.

Gold is trading at $1,630.29 an ounce.

The dollar is trading mixed against other major currencies.