Stocks Ended Broadly Lower

U.S. stocks ended broadly lower on Wednesday with losses led by the tech sector. The Dow industrial Average fell 111.36 points, or 0.56%, to 19,833.68. The S&P 500 declined 18.96 points, or 0.84%, to 2,249.92. The Nasdaq Composite lost 48.89 points, or 0.89%, to 5,438.56.

Oil futures rose for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, trading at nearly 18-month highs on expectations the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Light, sweet crude futures for delivery in February gained 16 cents a barrel, or 0.3%, to finish at $54.06. February Brent crude climbed 13 cents, or 0.2%, to $56.22 a barrel.

GNC Holdings, the retail chain that sells vitamins and supplements, closed about 4,500 U.S. stores for a day on Wednesday to synchronize its in-store and online prices, install new cash registers and launch a revamped loyalty program.