By Tuba Sahin
ANKARA (AA) - US stocks opened in negative territory Wednesday as crude oil prices jumped more than 4%, fueling inflation fears.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 58.6 points, or 0.17%, to 34,748 at 9.30 a.m. EDT (1330GMT). The S&P 500 fell 23 points, or 0.51%, to 4,488.
The Nasdaq was off 124.7 points, or 0.88%, to 13,984.
The VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, increased 4.62% to 24.00. The dollar index fell 0.27% to 98.787.
Precious metals were on the rise with gold going up 0.57% to $1,932 per ounce and silver gaining 1.22% to $25.21.
Crude prices were up more than 4%.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading at $120.37, up 4.23% at 9.30 a.m. EDT, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $113.83 -- a 4.17% gain.