US stocks open higher after jobs figures

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks opened higher on Friday after release of jobs figures.

The Dow Jones was up 104 points, or 0.27%, to 38,701 at 9.44 a.m. EDT. The S&P 500 rose 22 points, or 0.43%, to 5,170.

The Nasdaq, meanwhile, increased 96 points, or 0.6%, to 16,146.

US economy added 303,000 jobs in March, much higher than market estimates, the Labor Department announced earlier. The market expectation for nonfarm payrolls was to show a gain of 212,000 last month.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in March from 3.9% in February. The market estimate for the figure was to come in at 3.9%.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 0.06% to 16.34. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 1.4% to 4.368%.

The dollar index added 0.44% to 104.58, while the euro lost 0.33% to $1.0798 against the greenback.

Precious metals were mixed, with gold rising 0.3% to $2,230 per ounce but silver decreasing 0.3% to $26.82.

Oil prices were down around 0.2%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $90.71 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $86.49.