NEW YORK - US stocks ended lower on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 204.57 points, or 0.46 percent, to 44,632.99. The S&P 500 sank 18.91 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,370.86. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 80.29 points, or 0.38 percent, to 21,098.29.

Seven of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with industrials and consumer discretionary leading the laggards by losing 1.14 percent and 0.73 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, real estate and utilities led the gainers by rising 1.70 percent and 1.17 percent, respectively.