US stocks close with losses before release of key jobs data

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks closed Thursday with losses, one day before the release of key jobs data.

The Dow was down almost 10 points, or 0.03%, to finish the session at 33,119, and the S&P 500 was 5.5 points in the red, or 0.13%, to 4,258.

The Nasdaq, meanwhile, lost 16 points, or 0.12%, to end the day at 13,219.

The US economy added 187,000 jobs in August, higher than estimates, but unemployment jumped to 3.8%. Figures for September will be released Friday before the stock market opening. The expectation for job gains is 170,000 and the unemployment rate is expected to fall to 3.7%.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 0.5% to 18.49. The 10-year US Treasury yield was down 0.4% at 4.716%.

The dollar index shed 0.42% to 106.35, while the euro increased 0.45% to $1.0551 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in negative territory, with gold trimming 0.06% to $1,821 an ounce and silver falling 0.17% to $20.97.

Oil prices fell almost 2%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $84.27 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $82.56.