August 15, 2014: Markets opened higher on Friday but sank in the mid-morning on news that Ukraine troops were engaging with a Russian armored column. Tensions diminished in the afternoon, but the blue chips failed to recover. Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded down 0.23% for the day, the S&P 500 traded down 0.03%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.27%.

The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage loss today was Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) which traded lower by 1.12% at $210.15 today. The stock’s 52-week range is $172.21 to $235.50. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 2.4 million shares traded. The company had no news today, but anything related to more sanctions against Russia gives Visa’s investors heartburn.

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) traded down 1.04% at $25.61. The stock’s 52-week range is $22.92 to $28.09. Share volume was about 10% below the daily average of around 28.3 million shares traded. The company is reportedly in talks to sell its appliance business to Electrolux which on a normal day might have boosted the share price.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) traded down 0.78% at $86.59 in a 52-week range of $71.47 to $96.24. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 3.3 million shares traded. There was no big news on the company today but, like Visa, more U.S. sanctions against Russia are not helpful.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) traded down 0.8% today at $101.20 in a 52-week range of $85.50 to $106.74. Volume was about 20% below the daily average of around 6 million shares. The company had no news today.

Of the Dow 30 stocks only 7 are set to close higher today and 23 are poised to close lower.

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