U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, March 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 784.67 points, or 1.61 percent, to 47,954.74. The S&P 500 sank 38.79 points, or 0.56 percent, to 6,830.71. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 58.49 points, or 0.26 percent, to 22,748.99.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer staples and materials leading the laggards by going down 2.43 percent and 2.27 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and technology led the gainers by rising 0.59 percent and 0.39 percent, respectively.