Stocks Ended Lower as Coronavirus Fears Intensified

U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday, but well off their worst levels, as investors continued to react to rising infections of coronavirus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 256.50 points, or 0.98%, to 25,864.78. The S&P 500 lost 51.57 points, or 1.71%, to 2,972.37. The Nasdaq Composite declined 162.98 points, or 1.87%, to 8,575.62. For the week, the Dow gained 1.8%, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% and the Nasdaq edged up 0.1%.

Oil futures on Friday booked the biggest daily slide since 2014 as a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, led by Russia, collapsed in Vienna. West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery dropped $4.62, or 10.1%, to settle at $41.28 a barrel. May Brent crude finished down $4.72, or 9.4%, to end at $45.7 a barrel. For the week WTI crude traded 7.8% lower, while Brent crude has lost 8.9%.