Sharp declines at the U.S. stock open after Russia invades Ukraine

The major indices are opening sharply lower after Russia invaded Ukraine.

• The Dow and NASDAQ are now down for the six consecutive day
• the S&P is down for the fifth consecutive day
• NASDAQ is down over 22% from its all-time high
• S&P index is down 14.5% form its all-time high
• The Dow industrial average is 12.6% from its all time high

A snapshot of the market currently shows:

• Dow industrial average -790 points or -2.38% at 32343
• S&P -89 points -2.10% at 4138
• NASDAQ index -267 points or -2.05% at 12770
• Russell 2000 is down -39.2 points or -2.02% at 1905.00

A look around the markets currently shows:

• Spot gold Gold Gold is the most widely traded and important commodity. Prized for its historical importance and used for trading an exchange of goods, the gold market today is estimated at nearly $2.4 trillion.The value of gold fluctuates constantly, as it trades on public exchanges where it has a price that is determined by supply and demand. Gold has historically had tremendous significance and even today is extremely sought after. Gold has been used as a currency as it doesn't corrode, and the material allo Gold is the most widely traded and important commodity. Prized for its historical importance and used for trading an exchange of goods, the gold market today is estimated at nearly $2.4 trillion.The value of gold fluctuates constantly, as it trades on public exchanges where it has a price that is determined by supply and demand. Gold has historically had tremendous significance and even today is extremely sought after. Gold has been used as a currency as it doesn't corrode, and the material allo Read this Term is off it's highs but still trades up around $29 or 1.5% at $1936.40. The high price reached $1974.40
• WTI crude oil Crude Oil Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, Read this Term is trading at $98.10. That's up around six dollars on the day. The high price reached $100.54
• Bitcoin is trading at $35,252. It is not the safe haven that some had hoped. The low price reached $34,324.05. The high was at $37,444

In the US debt market, yields are still lower on the day but off their lowest levels. The expectations of a 50 basis point hike have started to dwindle with the stock market and with the global tension despite what could be higher inflation as a result of oil prices and other commodities. It's a tough situation.