Stocks fell on Wednesday as markets were unnerved by Germany's decision to ban naked short selling of certain financial instruments and comments from its chancellor that the euro was in danger.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 43.38 points, or 0.41 percent, at 10,467.57. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 5.49 points, or 0.49 percent, at 1,115.31. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 9.44 points, or 0.41 percent, at 2,307.82.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

Germany Ban