By Ovunc Kutlu
ISTANBUL (AA) – US stocks opened with losses on Tuesday to kick off the last trading week of the year on a lower note.
The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average fell 7 points, or 0.02%, to 33,196 at 9.35 a.m. EDT (1445GMT). The S&P 500 lost 13 points, or 0.34%, to 3,831.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 82 points, or 0.78%, to 10,415.
The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, jumped 8.4% to 22.63. The 10-year US Treasury yield increased 2% to 3.820%.
The dollar index added 0.03% to 104.35, while the euro retreated 0.16% to $1.0619 against the greenback.
Precious metals were up, with the price of gold rising 0.5% to $1,807 per ounce and silver gaining 0.9% to $23.95 an ounce.
Crude oil prices increased around 0.4%. Global benchmark Brent crude was up 0.36% to $84.80 per barrel. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was around $79.95 – up 0.49%.