US stocks open mixed after Fed releases minutes of last meeting

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks opened Thursday on a mixed note, one day after the release of the Federal Reserve's minutes from its recent two-day meeting that concluded May 1.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down almost 187 points, or 0.47%, to 39,484 at 9.51 a.m. EDT.

The S&P 500, on the other hand, rose nine points, or 0.17%, to 5,316. The Nasdaq, meanwhile, increased 100 points, or 0.6%, to 16,901.

The three major stock exchanges closed in the red Wednesday after the Fed minutes showed that members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) are concerned about a lack of further progress on inflation in recent months.

Some members, meanwhile, noted "a willingness" to further tighten monetary policy during the last meeting if "risks to inflation materialize," according to the minutes.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, rose 0.7% to 12.37. The 10-year US Treasury yield increased 0.9% to 4.477%.

The dollar index shed 0.25% to 104.67, while the euro added 0.1% to $1.0833 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in negative territory, with gold falling 1.1% to $2,355 per ounce and silver losing 0.9% to $30.55.

Oil prices were up around 0.8%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $82.58 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $78.26.