U.S. financial markets ended slightly lower Thursday, marking their first loss in a week of record highs.
The escalating conflict in Ukraine, disappointing retail earnings and profit outlooks combined to weigh down the market, eclipsing some good news on the U.S. economy and labor market.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower opening in premarket trading Thursday, following a downward turn in global stock markets as traders reacted to the developments in Ukraine.
Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said Russian forces had entered his country. He called an emergency meeting of the nation's security council. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note declined as investors sought out lower-risk assets.
A string of disappointing earnings and profit outlooks late Wednesday and early Thursday also weighed on the market early on.
All told, the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 3.38 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,996.74. The index hit record highs the first three days of the week.
The Dow Jones industrial average slid 42.44 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,079.57.
The Nasdaq composite shed 11.93 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,557.69.
Major U.S. indexes are on track to end higher for the month and are up for the year.