Stocks sank Wednesday, as investors worried about a spiraling of the euro zone's debt crisis.
The Dow Jones industrial average was lately down about 130 points.
Rising bond yields for Italy and Spain and the latest poll results in Greece worsened fears about Europe’s crisis. Yields on 10-year Spanish bonds moved closer to the 7 percent level, a point at which other nations in the bloc were forced to seek a bailout.
Spain is expected to issue new bonds shortly in an effort to fund its troubled banks despite the increased borrowing costs.
Adding to the concern, Italian 10-year yields topped 6 percent for the first time since January at a bond sale, raising concerns the region is vulnerable to a contagion.
The latest poll from Greece showed the radical leftist SYRIZA party has taken the lead over the pro-bailout conservatives ahead of a national parliamentary election next month that may determine whether the debt-laden country stays in the euro zone.
"It seems inevitable the euro has got to break up, it's just how long can they drag it out and what are the ramifications," said Nathan Snyder, portfolio manager at Snow Capital Management in Sewickley, Pennsylvania.
The region's fiscal woes sent the euro to its lowest level in 23 months against the dollar. U.S. equities have been closely tethered to the currency's fortunes, with a 50-day correlation between the euro and the S&P 500 index at 0.91.
"The longer they drag it out, the less severe are the ramifications of a break-up and then who actually ends up exiting - so much of this is unwritten it is hard to put any sort of odds on how this plays out," Snyder said.
The European Commission said the euro zone should move toward a banking union, consider eurobonds and the direct recapitalization of banks from its permanent bailout fund as well as boost growth and cut debt.
Research In Motion shares tumbled as the company hired bankers for a far-reaching strategic review and to look for partnerships as the BlackBerry-maker warned it would likely report a shock fiscal first-quarter operating loss.
Speaking at the All Things Digital conference, Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook said technology for televisions was of "intense interest" but stressed the company's efforts would unfold gradually amid speculation the iPad and iPhone maker was on the brink of unveiling a revolutionary iTV.
Footwear retailer Finish Line Inc raised its profit estimate for the first quarter as it now sees sales better than it had initially thought.
Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack plunged after the automotive parts and service chain said the sale of the company to private equity firm Gores Group has been called off.
Reuters contributed to this report.