US stocks have tumbled ahead of a much-anticipated speech by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and as European woes renewed global growth worries.

After hovering near breakeven for the past three days, the main indices remained stuck in red from the opening bell on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 105.53 points, or 0.81 per cent, at 13,001.95 in closing trade.

The S&P 500-stock index slid 10.80 points, or 0.77 per cent, to 1,399.69.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 32.48 points, or 1.05 per cent, at 3,048.71.

Friday’s eagerly anticipated speech by Bernanke in Jackson Hole, Wyoming was “fostering caution on the Street”, Charles Schwab analysts said.

Stocks were also under pressure “as global economic growth concerns are flaring up”, they added.