European share prices are higher in midday trading Tuesday. London's Financial Times index is up 12 points at 5,054.
The CAC-40 in Paris is eight points higher at 4,020, and the DAX index in Frankfurt is up 10 points at 4,397.
The S&P futures contract is up about two points, indicating a higher opening for U.S. stocks. Tokyo's Nikkei index was up more than 14 points to finish at 11,646.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index dropped 21 points to end at 13,996. The price of gold in London is 424 dollars, 60 cents an ounce, up 30 cents from late Monday. The dollar in London is lower against other major currencies.