U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 521.28 points, or 1.05 percent, to 48,977.92. The S&P 500 sank 29.98 points, or 0.43 percent, to 6,878.88. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 210.17 points, or 0.92 percent, to 22,668.21.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in green, with health and energy leading the gainers by going up 1.77 percent and 1.68 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, technology and financials led the laggards by dropping 2.17 percent and 1.99 percent, respectively.