NEW YORK - US stocks ended mixed on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 24.58 points, or 0.05 percent, to 45,271.23. The S&P 500 added 32.72 points, or 0.51 percent, to 6,448.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 218.1 points, or 1.02 percent, to 21,497.73.

Seven of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended lower, with energy and materials leading the laggards by losing 2.3 percent and 0.53 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, communication services and technology led the gainers by adding 3.76 percent and 0.82 percent, respectively.