U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, March 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 537.36 points, or 1.30 percent, to 40,813.57. The S&P 500 sank 77.78 points, or 1.39 percent, to 5,521.52. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 345.44 points, or 1.96 percent, to 17,303.01.