Dow Jones closes above 40,000 record for 1st time in history

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed Friday above the 40,000 record level for the first time in history, after briefly surpassing that level on Thursday but failing to hold on that threshold.

The blue-chip index rose 134 points, or 0.34%, to finish at 40,003. For the week, it gained 1.2% to post its fifth consecutive weekly gain.

The S&P 500, meanwhile, added six points, or 0.12%, to end the session at 5,303 and it saw a 1.5% weekly gain.

The Nasdaq, on the other hand, decreased 12 points, or 0.07%, to end the day at just below 16,686. The tech-heavy index rose 2.1% for the week.

Both the S&P and the Nasdaq to record their longest winning streak since February.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell almost 3.5% to 11.99. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 1% to 4.420%.

The dollar index was flat at 104.45, while the euro added 0.05% to $1.0870 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in the green, with gold rising 1.6% to $2,414 per ounce and silver soaring 6.6% to $31.54

Oil prices were up around 0.8%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $83.93 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $79.97.