August 18, 2014: Markets opened higher on Monday as tensions in Ukraine appear to have eased. A boost in homebuilder confidence probably helped a little, but equities were in favor today. Shortly before closing today the DJIA traded up 1.01% for the day, the S&P 500 traded up 0.80%, and the Nasdaq Composite traded up 0.93%.

The Dow 30 stock posting the biggest percentage gain today was United Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UTX) which traded up 2.24% today at $108.02 in a 52-week range of $99.50 to $120.66. Volume was about 10% above the daily average of around 3.8 million shares. The defense firm, along with competitor The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA), rose on an expected boost to military spending.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) traded higher by 1.81% at $213.99 today. The stock’s 52-week range is $172.21 to $235.50. Volume was about 25% below the daily average of around 2.4 million shares traded. The company had no news today, but the easing of tensions between the U.S. and Russia is generally good for Visa and its peers.

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) traded up 1.5% at $174.47. The stock’s 52-week range is $151.33 to $181.13. Share volume was about 25% below the daily average of around 2.4 million shares traded. The company had no news today, but financial stocks were up nearly 1% as a group today.

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) traded up 1.56% at $26.04 in a 52-week range of $22.92 to $28.09. Volume was about 30% below the daily average of around 28 million shares traded. The big industrial firm is finding favor with analysts again.

Of the Dow 30 stocks 26 are set to close higher today and just 4 are poised to close lower.

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