U.S. stocks close lower

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

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 793.47 points, or 1.73 percent, to 45,166.64. The S&P 500 sank 108.31 points, or 1.67 percent, to 6,368.85. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 459.724 points, or 2.15 percent, to 20,948.357.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer discretionary and financials leading the laggards by going down 3.05 percent and 2.49 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, energy and consumer staples led the gainers by rising 1.87 percent and 0.78 percent, respectively.