NEW YORK, Sept. 5 -- U.S. stocks ended mixed on Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 219.22 points, or 0.54 percent, to 40,755.75. The S&P 500 sank 16.66 points, or 0.30 percent, to 5,503.41. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 43.37 points, or 0.25 percent, to 17,127.66.

Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with health and industrials leading the laggards by losing 1.39 percent and 1.18 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, consumer discretionary and communication services led the gainers by rising 1.41 percent and 0.52 percent, respectively.

  - Xinhua