US stocks open mixed after strong week

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Major US stock exchanges opened Monday on a mixed note after a strong week of gains.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 205 points, or 0.5%, to 41,379 at 10.18 a.m. EDT (1418GMT). The blue-chip index gained 1.3% last week.

The S&P 500, on the other hand, lost almost four points, or 0.06%, reaching 5,630. Last week, the index rose 1.45%.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 113 points, or 0.63%, to 17,763. The tech-heavy index increased 1.4% last week.

The VIX volatility index, referred to as the "fear index," rose 2.8% to 16.30. The 10-year US Treasury yield lost 0.34% to 3.795%.

The US dollar index added 0.1% to 100.82, while the euro fell 0.2% against the dollar at $1.1168.

Precious metals were in positive territory, with gold rising 0.2% to $2,517 per ounce and silver adding 0.2% to $29.89 per ounce.

Oil prices were up more than 2.6% with global benchmark Brent crude at $80.22 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $77.20 per barrel.