European stock markets were higher in midday trading Monday.

London's Financial Times 100 index was up six-tenths of a percent to 5,523. The CAC-40 in Paris gained three-tenths of a percent to 3,182. And the DAX in Frankfurt rose two-thirds of a percent to 6,010.

The S&P futures contract was down slightly, indicating a flat opening for U.S. markets.

In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index rose nearly 2 percent to close at 8,844.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped more than 4 percent to end at 18,772.

Gold was trading at $1,651.69 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar was mixed against other major currencies.