Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said an economic stimulus package would provide a "boost," giving stocks a brief lift early in the session. But, Bernanke also warned that sustained recovery required a stronger financial system and the rally turned flat.

By close, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 25.41 points or 0.3 percent to 8,448.56. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 1.53 or 0.18 percent to 871.79. The Nasdaq composite index gained 7.67 or 0.5 percent to 1,546.46.

On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,648 stocks advanced and 1,434 declined on a volume of 5.5 billion shares traded.

The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 6/32 to yield 2.292 percent.

The euro fell to $1.3195, compared to Monday's $1.3378. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar rose to 89.23 yen, up from Monday's 89.09 yen.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei average lost 422.89 points to 8,413.91, down 4.79 percent.

In London, the FTSE 100 index fell 0.61 percent, down 27.04 points, to 4,399.15.