US stocks open mixed after key jobs figures

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Major stock exchanges in the US opened Friday mixed after key jobs figures.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 150 points, or 0.37%, to 40,905 at 9.42 a.m. EDT (1342GMT).

The S&P 500, on the other hand, fell two points, or 0.04%, to remain almost flat at 5,501.

The Nasdaq, meanwhile, decreased 84 points, or 0.49%, to 17,043.

US economy added 142,000 jobs in August, less than market estimates of 164,000, according to figures released earlier by the Labor Department. Job additions for July were also revised down 25,000, from 114,000 to 89,000.

The unemployment rate decreased to 4.2% in August, from 4.3% in July, and came in line with market estimates.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 1% to 19.70 at the time. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 0.5% to 3.752%.

The dollar index increased 0.05% to 101.16, while the euro declined 0.3% to $1.1076 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in negative territory, with gold losing 0.45% to $2,505 per ounce and silver decreasing 0.6% to $28.65.

Oil prices were up around 0.9%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $73.30 a barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $69.83.