U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Monday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 418.48 points, or 0.97 percent, to 42,573.73. The S&P 500 sank 63.90 points, or 1.07 percent, to 5,906.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 235.25 points, or 1.19 percent, to 19,486.78.

All of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer discretionary and materials leading the laggards by losing 1.59 percent and 1.34 percent, respectively. Energy posted the weakest decline, down 0.08 percent.