U.S. stocks close mixed

NEW YORK, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended mixed on Monday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 349.26 points, or 0.91 percent, to 37,965.6. The S&P 500 sank 11.83 points, or 0.23 percent, to 5,062.25. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 15.48 points, or 0.10 percent, to 15,603.26.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with real estate and materials leading the laggards by dropping 2.40 percent and 1.65 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, communication services and technology rose 1.03 percent and 0.32 percent, respectively.