U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 768.11 points, or 1.63 percent, to 46,225.15. The S&P 500 sank 91.39 points, or 1.36 percent, to 6,624.7. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 327.107 points, or 1.46 percent, to 22,152.421.

All of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer staples and consumer discretionary leading the laggards by going down 2.44 percent and 2.32 percent, respectively. Energy posted the weakest decline, down 0.16 percent.