Global shares fall on Europe fears

Wall Street ended lower on Wednesday as fears ahead of the weekend elections in Greece finally drove down a market that had been treading water through most of the day.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 77.42 points, or 0.62 percent, at 12,496.38. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 9.30 points, or 0.70 percent, at 1,314.88. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 24.46 points, or 0.86 percent, at 2,818.61.

European shares fell in choppy trade as corporate and economic data offered new evidence the European crisis was taking its toll on global growth, leading investors to position for further volatility.

It was the top faller on the FTSEurofirst 300, which closed 0.3 percent lower at 986.95 points, having traded 90 percent of its 90-day volume average.

In Asia, gains in a few large cap stocks boosted Japan's Nikkei share average, but the broader market was weak as investors remained concerned about Spain's struggle to finance its debt and looming elections in Greece.

The Nikkei rose 0.6 percent to 8,587.84, propped up by index heavyweights Fast Retailing and Softbank and other companies with strong domestic sales. Decliners outpaced advancers by a ratio of 8 to 7. The broader Topix, which struck a 28-year low on June 4, inched up 0.3 percent to 726.44 after slipping into negative territory in the afternoon session.