Nasdaq leads way as US stocks close higher

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - The Nasdaq led the way as US stocks closed higher Tuesday to continue gains this week.

The tech-heavy index soared 246 points, or 2.25%, to 11,199.

The blue-chip Dow rose 337 points, or 1.07%, to finish the second trading day of the week at 31,836. The S&P 500 added 61 points, or 1.63%, to 3,859.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, plummeted 5.1% to 28.32. The 10-year US Treasury yield dove 3.5% to 4.085%.

The dollar index fell 1% to 110.89, still around its highest in 20 years, while the euro added 0.9% to $0.9964 against the greenback.

Precious metals were mixed, with gold shedding 0.23% to $1,653 and silver adding 0.74% to $19.37.

Oil prices were also mixed. Global oil benchmark Brent crude was flat at $91.19 per barrel. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was around $84.96 – up 0.4%.