Nasdaq ends higher, US stocks close mostly flat

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - The Nasdaq ended Friday higher as most US stocks closed flat, despite jobs figures in June coming in positive to beat market estimates.

The tech-heavy index increased almost 14 points, or 0.12%, to finish at 11,635. It posted its fifth straight daily gain.

The Dow Jones, however, was down 46 points, or 0.15% to end the last trading day of the week flat at 31,338.

The S&P 500 decreased 3 points, or 0.08%, to close almost unchanged at 3,899.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 5.3% to 24.70. The dollar index was down 0.14% to 106.98.

The 10-year US Treasury yield, on the other hand, rose 2.4% to 3.080%.

Precious metals were on the rise with gold adding 0.1% to $1,742 and silver increasing 0.37% to $19.30.

After plummeting more than 8% Tuesday, crude prices have continued to climb further.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading at $107.04 per barrel for a 2.3% gain, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $104.75 -- up 2%.

The US economy added 372,000 jobs in June, above the market estimate of 268,000, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6%, the Labor Department announced earlier.

The job additions in May, however, were revised down by 6,000, from 390,000 to 384,000.