World stock markets dropped along with the euro Thursday amid growing concerns about Greece's ability to bring its debt crisis under control. Major markets in Asia were down around 1 percent or less and European shares opened lower. The euro fell to near its lowest point against the dollar in about nine months before recouping some losses. Oil prices slipped below $80 a barrel. Despite solid overnight gains in the U.S. and Europe, Asian stocks were unable to hold their early advance as Greece's crisis and the prospect of spillover effects led investors to cut back their bullish bets. Standard & Poor's, one of the three leading credit ratings agencies, warned Wednesday it could cut its rating on the country within a month. Meanwhile, Greece convulsed with labor protests over austerity measures demanded by the European Union to ease the crisis. 'The market is questioning whether Greece will have the willpower to implement the cuts,' said Khiem Do, a Hong Kong-based fund manager who helps oversee more than $10 billion in Asian equities at Baring Asset Management. 'They don't trust that Greece will drink the bitter medicine it needs.' Worries about Greece outweighed more assurances from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke borrowing costs will stay at rock-bottom lows. Speaking to lawmakers, Bernanke said low rates were needed 'for an extended period' to help keep the economic recovery on track and Americans hard-hit by high unemployment and falling housing prices. As trading opened in Europe, markets in Britain and Germany shed 0.2 percent, and France's CAC-40 dropped 0.3 percent. Wall Street was set to open down after U.S. futures fell. Earlier in Asia, the Nikkei 225 stock average fell 96.87 points, or 1 percent, to 10,101.96. Shares of Toyota Motor Corp. edged down 0.2 percent after president Akio Toyoda, appearing before U.S. lawmakers, apologized for safety lapses that have led to deaths and widespread recalls. South Korea's Kospi lost 1.6 percent to 1,587.51 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.3 percent to 20,399.57. Elsewhere, Australia's market dropped 1.2 percent while India's market gained 0.1 percent. Shanghai's benchmark defied the downward swing, rising 1.3 percent. The euro fell to $1.3484 from $1.3534, hitting a low of $1.3452 during the session. The dollar slid to 89.40 yen from 90.10 yen. In oil, benchmark crude of April delivery was changing hands at $79.59 a barrel, down 41 cents from the previous session. The contract gained $1.14 overnight. Wednesday on Wall Street, the Dow rose 91.75, or 0.9 percent, to 10,374.16. The advance pared the Dow's loss for the week to 28 points. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 10.64, or 1 percent, to 1,105.24, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 22.46, or 1 percent, to 2,235.90. 