US stocks open lower with Ukraine-Russia tension

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - US stocks opened lower Tuesday amid the deepening Russia-Ukraine crisis after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree late Monday recognizing the pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered military troops to deploy to the region for the alleged purpose of peacekeeping.

The Dow Jones fell 232 points, or 0.68%, to 34,079 at 9.30 a.m. EDT (1430GMT).

The S&P 500 lost 19 points, or 0.44%, to 4,329.

The Nasdaq was off 168 points, or 1.23%, to 13,548.

The VIX volatility index soared 6.06% to 29.43, as the fear index refused to decline and has found strong support from the key level of 20.

The dollar index was slightly down 0.01% to 96.010, and the yield on 10-year US Treasury notes increased 0.02% to 1.948%.

Precious metals were mixed, with gold gaining 0.28% to $1,905 per ounce but silver rising 1.11% to $24.258.

Brent crude was trading at $95.04 per barrel with a 2.2% gain. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was at $93.25 -- up 3.37%.