US stocks open mixed as consumer inflation comes above expectations

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stock exchanges opened mixed on Tuesday, after consumer inflation figures in February came above expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 37 points, or 0.1%, to 38,731 at 9.41 a.m. EDT (1341GMT).

The S&P 500, on the other hand, rose seven points, or 0.15%, to 5,125.

The Nasdaq, meanwhile, increased 35 points, or 0.22%, to 16,054 at the time.

Consumer inflation in the US annually rose 3.2% in February, and monthly gained 0.4%, both coming in above market expectations.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 3.7% to 14.65. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 1.1% to 4.152%.

The dollar index increased 0.25% to 103.03, while the euro lost 0.18% to $1.0906 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in negative territory, with gold losing 1.1% to $2,158 per ounce and silver decreasing 1.6% to $24.07.

Oil prices were down around 0.2%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $82.08 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $77.84.