U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 409.94 points, or 0.96 percent, to 42,514.95. The S&P 500 sank 53.78 points, or 0.92 percent, to 5,797.42. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 296.48 points, or 1.60 percent, to 18,276.65.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer discretionary and technology leading the laggards by dropping 1.82 percent and 1.68 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, real estate and utilities went up 1.02 percent and 1.01 percent, respectively.