The Dow Jones industrial average fell 28.89 or 0.27 percent to 10,800.30 on a volume of 601.1 million shares. The Nasdaq composite rose 1.34 or 0.06 percent to 2,178.34, and the Standard & Poor's 500 rose 0.10 or 0.01 percent to 1,213.55.

Positively, oil fell slightly and the Labor Department said initial jobless claims fell more than expected, the Wall Street Journal reported. But negatively, the Chicago Purchasing Managers index, a gauge of Midwest manufacturing, fell this month.

The 10-year Treasury note added 17/32, or $5.31 cents for each $1,000 invested, for a 4.27 percent yield.

The dollar fell to 103 yen from 103.89, and the euro rose to $1.365 from $1.3601.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225, open only a half day, rose 107.20 points or 0.9 percent to close at 11,488.76, and London's FTSE 100 settled at 4,820.10 after edging up 0.30 or 0.01 percent.