NEW YORK, Aug. 1 -- U.S. stocks ended lower on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 494.82 points, or 1.21 percent, to 40,347.97. The S&P 500 sank 75.62 points, or 1.37 percent, to 5,446.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 405.26 points, or 2.30 percent, to 17,194.15.

Six of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with technology and energy leading the laggards by losing 3.36 percent and 2.56 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, utilities and real estate led the gainers by rising 1.85 percent and 1.58 percent, respectively.

  - Xinhua