The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 41.11 points, or 0.42 percent, to 9,707.44. The broader Standard and Poor's 500 Index lost 10.09 points, or 0.95 percent, to 1,050.78. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell 23.81 points, or 1.12

percent, to 2,107.61.

The US currency gained against the euro to 68.201 euro cents from 67.98 euro cents on Wednesday. The dollar dropped against the Japanese currency to 91.26 yen from 91.46 yen Wednesday.