By Ovunc Kutlu
ISTANBUL (AA) - The S&P 500 closed Thursday at its highest level this year, as US stocks posted gains to end the session.
The stock exchange increased 26 points, or 0.62%, to finish the day at 4,293.93 points.
The index on Monday climbed to its highest level of the year with 4,299.28 points during trading hours, but failed to hold that level to close the day with a 0.2% loss.
The blue-chip Dow Jones was up 168 points, or 0.5%, to end the session at 33,833.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped 133 points, or 1.02%, to finish at 13,238.
The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 2.1% to 13.65. The 10-year US Treasury yield, meanwhile, dove 1.9% to 3.717%.
The dollar index shed 0.7% to 103.33, while the euro gained 0.8% to $1.0782 against the greenback.
Precious metals were showing strong gains, with gold jumping 1.3% to $1,965 per ounce and silver soaring 3.6% to $24.28.
Oil prices extended losses were down around 2%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $75.53 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $70.92.