US stock exchanges close with losses

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Major stock exchanges in the US closed Wednesday with losses.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 159 points, or 0.39%, to finish the session at 41,091.

The S&P 500 fell 33 points, or 0.6%, reaching 5,592. The Nasdaq Composite dove 198 points, or 1.12%, to 17,556.

The VIX volatility index, referred to as the "fear index," jumped 10.9% to 17.11. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 0.3% to 3.845%.

The US dollar index added 0.55% to 101.01, while the euro lost 0.62% against the dollar at $1.1115.

Precious metals were in negative territory, with gold falling 0.7% to $2,507 per ounce and silver declining 2.5% to $29.23 per ounce.

Oil prices were down around 1.1%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $77.72 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $74.72 per barrel.