European share prices are higher in midday trading Thursday.
London's Financial Times index is up 18 points at 4,919.
The CAC-40 in Paris is 20 points higher at 4,085, and the DAX index in Frankfurt is up 18 points at 4,365.
The S&P futures contract is down less than one point.
Tokyo's Nikkei index gained 103 points to finish at 11,669.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 91 points to end at 13,517.
The price of gold in London is 427 dollars and 50 cents an ounce, up one dollar and 20 cents from Wednesday. The dollar in London is mixed against other major currencies.