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.