Wall Street ended lower on Monday as investors are nervous that the swine flu outbreak could spread and block economic recovery.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, April 27, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters photo)

Investors also closely watched General Motors, after the company stepped up dealer shutdowns and job cuts and offered equity to bondholders under a plan to reduce liabilities by 44 billion U.S. dollars. GM soared more than 20 percent on the restructuring plan, to above 2 dollars a share.

Humana Inc., the second-biggest provider of U.S.-backed medical benefits, jumped after profit more than doubled. CVS Caremark Corp. and Walgreen Co. advanced on speculation that the spread of swine flu will boost sales of pharmaceuticals.

The Dow Jones average fell 51.29, or 0.6 percent, to 8,025.00. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 8.72, or 1 percent, to 857.51,and the Nasdaq composite index fell 14.88, or 0.9 percent, to 1,679.41.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet