US stocks open Thursday higher before key jobs figures

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) – US stock exchanges opened Thursday higher, the day before the release of key jobs figures.

The Dow Jones was up seven points, or 0.02%, to 36,060 at 9.39 a.m. EDT. The S&P 500 added 23 points, or 0.52%, to 4,572.

The Nasdaq, meanwhile, increased 139 points, or 0.1%, to 14,286.

Nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate for November will be released before market opening on Friday.

US private payrolls rose by 103,000 in November, much less than the market estimate of 130,000 jobs, according to figures released on Wednesday.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, was up 1% to 13.10 at the time. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 0.7% to 4.148%.

The dollar index decreased 0.3% to 103.82, while the euro added 0.12% to $1.0775 against the greenback.

After losses in the past days, precious metals were mixed, with gold adding 0.3% to $2,031 per ounce but silver decreasing 0.34% to $23.82.

Oil prices were up around 1.2%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $75.17 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $70.17.