The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 slipped as signs of a strong economic recovery were put to the test by a large drop in consumer confidence and disappointing quarterly results from Office Depot and US Steel, among other companies.

The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 32.4 points, or 0.4 percent, to 9,076.09. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 4.6 points, or 0.4 percent, to 977.52. But the Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 1.3 points, or 0.07 percent, to 1,969.19.

European shares extend losses as banking shares fell after Deutsche Bank raised its loan loss provisions, while oil major BP's uninspiring results also put pressure.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index is down 0.5 percent at 907.28 points, having hit a high of 918.45 earlier in the session.Japan's Nikkei average inched lower as caution set in after nine straight days of gains and shares that had led the strong run-up such as Advantest Corp fell.

The benchmark Nikkei dipped 1.40 points to 10,087.26. It rose 1.5 percent the previous day to post its highest close since June 12.

•Stocks off nine-month high; dollar at 2009 lows