European stocks fell in early trading, with France's CAC 40 down 0.5 percent at 4,636.26 and Germany's DAX 0.9 percent lower at 10,219.43. Britain's FTSE 100 slipped 0.1 percent to 6,1845.64.
U.S. stocks were poised to open lower, with Dow futures down 1 percent to 16,493.00 while S&P 500 futures retreated 0.9 percent to 1,970.60.