U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 267.5 points, or 0.54 percent, to 49,395.16. The S&P 500 sank 19.42 points, or 0.28 percent, to 6,861.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 70.91 points, or 0.31 percent, to 22,682.73.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with financials and consumer discretionary leading the laggards by going down 0.86 percent and 0.53 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, utilities and industrials led the gainers by rising 1.13 percent and 0.77 percent, respectively.