Stocks fell on Thursday, with the Nasdaq dropping about 1 percent, after remarks from European Central Bank President Mario Draghi tempered hopes policymakers were priming a financial bazooka to tackle Europe's raging debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> slid 113.22 points, or 0.93 percent, to 12,083.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 16.09 points, or 1.28 percent, to 1,244.92. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> took off 25.38 points, or 0.96 percent, to 2,623.83.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)