Wall Street opens higher after strong GDP figure

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks opened Thursday in positive territory after fourth-quarter GDP figures beat estimates.

The Dow Jones rose 119 points, or 0.31%, to 37,925 at 9.35 a.m. EDT (1435GMT). The S&P 500 added 22 points, or 0.44%, to 4,890.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq, meanwhile, increased 67 points, or 0.43%, to 15,548.

The American economy expanded 3.3% in the fourth quarter, beating market estimates of 2%, according to the Commerce Department's first and advance readings.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, rose 0.15% to 13.16. The 10-year US Treasury yield shed 1% to 4.137%.

The dollar index increased 0.06% to 103.29, while the euro lost 0.2% to $1.0861 against the greenback.

Precious metals were on the rise with gold adding 0.45% to $2,022 per ounce and silver increasing 1.2% to $22.94.

Oil prices were also in the green, with global benchmark Brent crude rising 1.55% to $81.28 per barrel, and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude adding 1.8% to $76.43.