Stocks End Lower as Energy, Oil Weigh

Stocks fell on Wednesday, in part dragged down by the energy sector and oil prices. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 71.52 points, or 0.54 percent, to end at 13,126.21. The S&P 500 Index fell 6.98 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 1,405.54. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 15.39 points, or 0.49 percent, to finish at 3,104.96.

Oil prices fell on Wednesday as a big rise in U.S. crude inventories and the prospect the United States and some European nations might tap strategic reserves sent futures into retreat. Crude oil for May delivery dropped $1.92 to end at $105.41 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Social networking site Facebook is halting the sale of its shares on secondary markets effective next week, aiming to reduce churn in its valuation which could complicate matters as it sets an IPO price, a person familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

Fertilizer maker Mosaic Co (NYSE:MOS) reported late Wednesday its fiscal third-quarter profit fell to $273 million, or 64 cents a share, from $542 million, or $1.21 a year ago.