US open: Ukraine tensions weigh on stocks

By

Sharecast News | 22 Aug, 2014

US stocks were holding slightly lower in the early going in New York trading despite Fed chair Janet Yellen having indicated at the Jackson Hole symposium on economics that there remains slack in the labour market, while emphasising the depth of the damage which the last financial crisis had provoked.

- Stocks slip on Russia-Ukraine tensions

- Launch of iPhone 6 may be delayed

- Oil futures slip lower

Dow Jones Industrials: -0.18%

Nasdaq Composite: -0.02%

S&P 500: -0.27%

US stocks were holding slightly lower in the early going in New York trading despite Fed chair Janet Yellen having indicated at the Jackson Hole symposium on economics that there remains slack in the labour market, while emphasising the depth of the damage which the last financial crisis had provoked.

That came amid reports of renewed tensions along the border of Ukraine and Russia after the Russian aid convoy entered Ukraine without authorisation from Kiev nor escorts from the International Red Cross.

Critically, Ukraine's state security chief has reportedly said that it will not use force against the Russian aid convoy which has entered its territory.

All eyes are now on whether the S&P 500 manages to break above the psychologically-important level of 2,000 points for the first time in history.

Comments from Philadelphia Fed president Charles Plosser were also being closely watched after he said that the central bank should change its forward guidance on interest rates owing to a stronger-than-expected recovery. "We need to signal to the market that rate increases may come earlier," he said.

In corporate news, Apple shares were lower on the back of reports that the tech giant's iPhone 6 could face delays.

According to Reuters, suppliers are struggling to get enough screens ready for the iPhone 6 launch after panel production was disrupted. The news agency said it's unsure whether disruptions will delay the launch or just limit the number of smartphones available when the gadget is unveiled next month.

Sportswear and footwear retailer Foot Locker gained after second-quarter results topped analysts' estimates.

Front month West Texas crude futures were off by 0.96% to $93.05 per barrel on the NYMEX.

10-year US Treasury yields edged higher by 2 basis points to 2.43%.

S&P 500 - Risers

Keurig Green Mountain Inc (GMCR) $129.09 +9.79%

Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $60.04 +7.77%

GameStop Corp. (GME) $42.86 +5.85%

Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) $73.02 +5.44%

eBay Inc. (EBAY) $55.74 +4.39%

Gap Inc. (GPS) $45.00 +4.21%

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) $104.64 +3.82%

E*TRADE Financial Corp. (ETFC) $22.30 +2.29%

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) $31.93 +2.21%

Fossil Group Inc (FOSL) $101.49 +1.93%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Intuit Inc. (INTU) $83.07 -2.58%

AvalonBay Communities Inc. (AVB) $152.85 -1.66%

Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO) $43.28 -1.64%

Transocean Ltd. (RIG) $38.05 -1.61%

Hess Corp. (HES) $98.59 -1.48%

Iron Mountain Inc. (IRM) $35.64 -1.44%

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (COG) $33.02 -1.43%

Deere & Co. (DE) $85.01 -1.39%

Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) $41.51 -1.38%

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) $25.11 -1.37%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers

Intel Corp. (INTC) $35.11 +1.77%

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $24.93 +0.89%

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $59.29 +0.75%

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $176.45 +0.74%

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) $75.96 +0.54%

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) $58.76 +0.45%

Nike Inc. (NKE) $79.26 +0.41%

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $28.93 +0.40%

Visa Inc. (V) $216.55 +0.37%

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $90.71 +0.37%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) $106.89 -1.00%

Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) $98.38 -0.91%

Chevron Corp. (CVX) $126.80 -0.88%

AT&T Inc. (T) $34.37 -0.78%

General Electric Co. (GE) $26.25 -0.70%

E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (DD) $65.89 -0.62%

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) $48.61 -0.53%

Home Depot Inc. (HD) $90.74 -0.45%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $103.75 -0.42%

United Technologies Corp. (UTX) $109.63 -0.40%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Keurig Green Mountain Inc (GMCR) $129.09 +9.79%

Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) $73.02 +5.44%

eBay Inc. (EBAY) $55.74 +4.39%

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) $104.64 +3.82%

Nxp Semiconductors Nv (NXPI) $65.66 +2.55%

Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) $22.32 +1.92%

Intel Corp. (INTC) $35.11 +1.77%

Vodafone Group Plc ADS (VOD) $34.05 +1.64%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $72.07 +1.48%

Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFM) $38.47 +1.45%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Intuit Inc. (INTU) $83.07 -2.58%

Baidu Inc. (BIDU) $216.11 -1.33%

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) $166.91 -1.08%

Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) $54.41 -1.07%

Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) $54.07 -1.04%

Monster Beverage Corp (MNST) $86.59 -1.04%

PACCAR Inc. (PCAR) $62.67 -1.03%

Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) $60.33 -1.02%

F5 Networks Inc. (FFIV) $121.41 -0.95%

Amazon.Com Inc. (AMZN) $332.86 -0.87%

AB

Last news