US blue chip stocks fell on Friday as a storm threatening the Gulf of Mexico sent crude oil prices higher, pressuring industrial stocks such as Boeing Co and United Technologies Corp. Crude oil futures for October delivery rose on concerns over a storm that could damage oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico or curtail production there.
Boeing, General Motors Corp and United Technologies shares led the Dow's decline. Exxon Mobil Corp, was among the major stocks keeping the S&P 500 in negative territory. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 26.73 points, or 0.24 percent, at 11,277.73. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 1.62 points, or 0.12 percent, at 1,294.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up just 1.08 points, or 0.05 percent, at 2,138.19.