S&P records worst monthly performance since December

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The S&P 500 in September had its worst monthly performance since December as US stocks closed mixed Friday, the last trading day of the third quarter.

The index was down 11 points, or 0.27%, to finish the day at 4,288. It dove 4.9% for the month and lost 3.7% in the quarter.

The Dow fell 158 points, or 0.47%, to end the session at 33,507. The blue-chip index registered a loss of 3.5% monthly and 2.6% quarterly.

The Nasdaq, on the other hand, rose 18 points, or 0.14%, to close at 13,219. The tech-heavy index recorded a 5.8% decline in September and 4.1% for the quarter.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, rose 1% to 17.52. The 10-year US Treasury yield added 0.2% to 4.579%.

The dollar index was down 0.05% to 106.17, while the euro added 0.12% to $1.0572 against the greenback.

Precious metals were still in the red, with gold trimming 0.9% to $1,848 per ounce and silver decreasing 2% to $22.18.

Oil prices were down more than 1%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $92.09 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $90.77.