U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 542.4 points, or 1.23 percent, to 43,588.58. The S&P 500 sank 101.38 points, or 1.6 percent, to 6,238.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 472.32 points, or 2.24 percent, to 20,650.13.