U.S. stocks close lower

NEW YORK, March 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.96 percent to 45,577.47. The S&P 500 sank 1.51 percent to 6,506.48. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 2.01 percent to 21,647.61.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with utilities and real estate leading the laggards by falling 4.11 percent and 3.15 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, financials and energy led the gainers by rising 0.19 percent and 0.01 percent, respectively.