US stocks open higher to kick off July

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Major stock exchanges in the US opened Monday in positive territory to kick off the month of July higher, after posting strong gains in the first six months of the year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 233 points, or 0.6%, to 39,352 at 9.59 a.m. EDT (1359GMT). The blue-chip index added 3.8% in the first half of this year.

The S&P 500, meanwhile, added 14 points, or 0.26%, to 5,474 after the index rose 14.5% in January-June period.

The Nasdaq increased 11 points, or 0.06%, to 17,743. The tech-heavy index gained 18.1% in the first six months of the year.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, rose 3.4% to 12.86. The 10-year US Treasury yield added 2.2% to 4.438%.

The dollar index shed 0.22% to 105.63, while the euro increased 0.42% to $1.0756 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in positive territory, with gold rising 0.2% to $2,331 per ounce and silver adding 0.9% to $29.39.

Oil prices were up around 0.8%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $85.69 and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $82.18.