U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 626.15 points, or 1.51 percent, to 40,936.93. The S&P 500 sank 119.47 points, or 2.12 percent, to 5,528.93. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 577.33 points, or 3.26 percent, to 17,136.3.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with technology and energy leading the laggards by losing 4.43 percent and 2.41 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, consumer staples and real estate led the gainers by rising 0.76 percent and 0.27 percent, respectively.