The U.S. stock indices ended lower on Wednesday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 228.29 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 47,885.97. The Standard and Poor's 500 lost 78.83 points, or 1.16 percent, to 6,721.43. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 418.14 points, or 1.81 percent, to 22,693.32.
Seven of the 11 primary Standard and Poor's 500 sectors ended lower, with technology and communication service leading the laggards by losing 2.19 percent and 1.90 percent, respectively, while energy and consumer staples increased by 2.21 percent and 0.45 percent, respectively.
U.S. stocks close lower on Wednesday
U.S. stocks close lower on Wednesday
The U.S. Embassy in Ecuadorian capital Quito announced on Wednesday that, under a bilateral security strategy agreement, the United States had deployed troops to Ecuador as part of its regional anti-narcotics campaign.
It is reported that the U.S. personnel will be stationed at a base in Manta in Ecuador, which was previously used by the U.S. military until 2009.
The U.S. side did not disclose the specific scale or duration of the deployment.
The U.S. Embassy said this is a short-term joint operation with the Ecuadorian Air Force, aimed at enhancing intelligence gathering and counter-narcotics capabilities to protect both the United States and Ecuador from shared threats.
Meanwhile, Ecuador's defense ministry confirmed that U.S. aircraft had delivered military supplies to the Latin American country but did not provide further details.
US deploys troops to Ecuador for anti-drugs operation
