By Tuba Sahin
ANKARA (AA) - US stocks opened higher Thursday as investors are eyeing the Russian war on Ukraine.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 233.6 points, or 0.69%, to .34,125 at 09.33 a.m. EDT. The S&P 500 rose 24 points, or 0.55%, to 4,410.
The Nasdaq increased 67.4 points, or 0.49%, to reach 13,819.
The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell 18,000 to 215,000 last week, according to the Labor Department.
The VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, fell 3.25% to 29.74 while the dollar index rose 0.16% to 97.57.
Precious metals were on the rise as safe heaven assets, with gold rising 0.35% to $1,929 per ounce and silver to $25.27.
Brent crude was trading at $111.8 per barrel, falling 0.97%, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was at $108.88 -- a 1.56% loss.