Global shares fall on Greece fears

Global shares slid for a sixth day while safe-haven US and German government debt rose on Wednesday as rising fears about the fragility of Spanish banks and a political impasse in Greece worsened fears about the euro zone debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 97.03 points, or 0.75 percent, at 12,835.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 9.14 points, or 0.67 percent, at 1,354.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 11.56 points, or 0.39 percent, at 2,934.71.

European shares fell to a four-month low on Wednesday as growing political uncertainty in Greece and concerns over the Spanish financial system hit markets, with traders and analysts saying central banks might have to pump more liquidity into the system.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index ended down 0.3 percent at 1,014.46 points. The index pared back some of its earlier losses towards the end of the session, but still finished at its lowest close since Jan. 9 when it ended at 1,008.69 points.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei share average fell 1.5 percent on Wednesday to a fresh three-month closing low as concerns grew that Greece could reject its hard-won bailout deal with international lenders that saved it from a disruptive bankruptcy.

The Nikkei was down 136.59 points at 9,045.06 to its lowest close since February 13, a day before the Bank of Japan unexpectedly eased policy by expanding its asset purchase programme to help the economy mired in deflation.

The benchmark Nikkei broke below its 200-day moving average near 9,058, and the next support level is 9,000.