US stocks end higher as Dow closes above 45,000 for 1st time

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks ended with gains Wednesday as the Dow Jones index set a milestone, closing above 45,000 for the first time.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308.51 points, or 0.69%, finishing at 45,014.04.

The S&P 500 added 36.61 points, or 0.61%, to reach 6,086.49. The Nasdaq increased 254.21 points, or 1.3%, to end at 19,735.12.

The VIX volatility index, referred to as the "fear index," rose by 1.13% to 13.45.

Precious metals were in the green, with gold adding 0.23% to $2,674.40 per ounce and silver rising 0.85% to $31.30 as of 2200GMT.

Oil prices meanwhile fell around 1.67%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $72.30 a barrel.