U.S. stocks close mixed

NEW YORK, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended mixed on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 161.35 points, or 0.37 percent, to 43,239.05. The S&P 500 sank 1.00 points, or 0.02 percent, to 5,841.47. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 6.53 points, or 0.04 percent, to 18,373.61.

Six of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with utilities and communication services leading the laggards by dropping 0.93 percent and 0.69 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and technology led the gainers by going up 0.44 percent and 0.42 percent, respectively.