Stocks Ended Lower with Jackson Hole Meeting in Focus

U.S.stocks closed slightly lower on Thursday, as investors focused on a symposium of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 28.69 points, or 0.13%, to 21,783.40. The S&P 500 was down 5.07 points, or 0.21%, to 2,438.97. The Nasdaq Composite fell 7.08 points, or 0.11%, to 6,271.33.

Oil prices ended sharply lower Thursday as pressure from the risk of weaker energy demand in the wake of a potential Category 3 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico outweighed the typical price boost associated with the prospect of production disruptions in the region. October West Texas Intermediate crude fell 98 cents, or 2%, to settle at $47.43 a barrel. October Brent crude lost 53 cents, or 1%, to $52.04 a barrel.