Stocks fell on Wednesday as sharp declines in metals and energy prices weighed on commodity-related stocks and underscored concerns about the global economy and Europe's festering debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 77.99 points, or 0.70 percent, to 11,112.70. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dropped 12.46 points, or 1.06 percent, to 1,162.92. The Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 27.44 points, or 1.08 percent, to 2,519.39.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)