On the corporate front, McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) said its global same-store sales climbed 3.3% in April, a slimmer gain than the 4.29% analysts expected, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

Foreign Markets

European blue chips fell 2.1%. the English FTSE 100 slipped 1.8% to 5555 and the German DAX dipped 1.9% to 6445. 

In Asia, the Japanese Nikkei 225 rose 0.69% to 9182 and the Chinese Hang Seng slumped 0.25% to 20485.