Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The S&P 500 briefly dipped below the 5,700 level in recent trading before moving off its session low. The Dow Jones Industrial Average trades near its best level, albeit still sporting a 0.4% decline, after being down as much as 0.9%. 

Defense stocks are gaining ground today amid growing geopolitical unrest in the Middle East. Lockheed Martin (LMT 606.65, +21.95, +3.8%), RTX (RTX 124.41, +3.24, +2.7%), Northrop Grumman (NOC 550.37, +22.30, +4.2%), and L3Harris (LHX 246.78, +8.91, +3.8%) all reached new 52-week highs today. 

The iShares US Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) sports a 1.3% gain.