Dow opens with record as US stocks start new week higher

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened Monday at a record high as US stocks started the new week on a positive note.

The blue-chip index, which includes 30 prominent American companies, rose 216 points, or 0.6%, to 40,216 at 9:42 a.m. EDT (1342GMT). It increased by 1.6% last week, marking gains for the last three consecutive trading days.

The S&P 500, meanwhile, added almost 23 points, or 0.42%, to 5,639 and the Nasdaq gained 78 points, or 0.43%, to 18,477.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, rose 3.4% to 12.88. The 10-year US Treasury yield added 0.67% to 4.213%.

The dollar index was steady at 104.11, while the euro increased 0.06% to $1.0913 against the greenback.

Precious metals were mixed, with gold rising 0.2% to $2,415 per ounce and silver decreasing 0.2% to $30.73.

Oil prices were down around 0.7%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $84.45 and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $80.41.