U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,123.03 points, or 2.58 percent, to 42,326.87. The S&P 500 sank 178.45 points, or 2.95 percent, to 5,872.16. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 716.37 points, or 3.56 percent, to 19,392.69.

All of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer discretionary and real estate leading the laggards by losing 4.74 percent and 3.97 percent, respectively. Health posted the weakest decline, down 1.38 percent.