The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Friday was under pressuring, with the shares of Apple Inc., and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., producing the biggest downdraft for the average. The combined decline of both the Dow components was exacting a roughly 30-point toll on the price-weighted gauge. Goldman’s shares were down 1%, or $2.64, translating to about a 20-point reduction in the Dow, with Apple’s shares , down 0.7%, or $1.27, contributing roughly 9 points. Goldman announced that tax repatriation costs tied to recently signed tax legislation will erode about $5 billion from its fourth-quarter earnings. Meanwhile, Apple remains under pressure as the iPhone maker apologizes for its handling of battery issues tied to older versions of its popular mobile devices. The Dow most recently was down 36 points, or 0.2%, at 24,799, the S&P 500 index was off 0.1% at 2,684, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.3% at 6,932. All three benchmarks have enjoyed stellar year-to-date returns of at least 20%, with Friday’s trading action mostly reflecting light volumes ahead of New Year’s on Monday, when markets will be closed.
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