US stocks open lower as indices struggle to recover

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - US stocks opened lower Wednesday, struggling to recover from previous losses.

The Dow Jones was down 98 points, or 0.27%, to 36,043 at 9.36 a.m. EDT. The S&P 500 fell 8 points, or 0.18%, to 4,692.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq was off 10, or 0.6%, to 15,963.

The VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, was up 2.8% to 16.83. The yield on 10-year US Treasury notes rose 0.3% to 1.639%.

The dollar index, however, remained unchanged at 95.91.

Oil prices were down with international benchmark Brent crude falling 0.8% to $81.75 per barrel. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate declined 1.1% to $78.86.

Precious metals extended their gains with gold rising 0.76% to $1,864 per ounce and silver gaining 1% to $25.08.

After plummeting to $58,373 at 5 a.m. EDT, Bitcoin was trading just below $60,000 for a 2.1% loss.