U.S. stocks end lower as investors weight tensions between the West and Russia over Ukraine

3/14/2014

NEW YORK -- The U.S. stock market is ending lower as investors brace for a critical vote this weekend over the future Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula.

The region is holding a vote on Sunday, which is widely expected to back splitting off from Ukraine. The United States and Europe have warned Russia of consequences if it moves to seize the region. The United States and Russia found “no common vision” over the crises after hours of talks on Friday.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell five points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 1,841 today. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 43 points, or 0.3 percent, to 16,065. The Nasdaq slipped 15 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,245.

Aeropostale fell $1.47, or 20 percent, to $5.83 after the teen clothing retailer reported a wider loss.