U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, July 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 279.13 points, or 0.63 percent, to 44,371.51. The S&P 500 sank 20.71 points, or 0.33 percent, to 6,259.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 45.14 points, or 0.22 percent, to 20,585.53.