U.S. stocks close mixed

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended mixed on Monday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 344.31 points, or 0.80 percent, to 42,931.6. The S&P 500 sank 10.69 points, or 0.18 percent, to 5,853.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 50.45 points, or 0.27 percent, to 18,540.01.

Ten of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with real estate and health leading the laggards by dropping 2.08 percent and 1.19 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, technology bucked the trend by rising 0.93 percent.