U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 178.20 points, or 0.42 percent, to 42,528.36. The S&P 500 sank 66.35 points, or 1.11 percent, to 5,909.03. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 375.30 points, or 1.89 percent, to 19,489.68.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with technology and consumer discretionary leading the laggards by losing 2.39 percent and 2.21 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and health led the gainers by going up 1.06 percent and 0.58 percent, respectively.