US stock market opens higher with positive data

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - Major US stock indexes opened higher Thursday with positive macroeconomic data.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 119 points, or 0.33%, to 35,873 at 9.33 a.m. EDT. The S&P 500 was up 16, or 0.34%, to 4,712.

The Nasdaq increased 31 points, or 0.2%, to 15,553.

Personal income in the US increased 0.4% in November, while personal spending rose 0.6% from the month before, according to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis report.

The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims also remained unchanged at 205,000 last week, compared to the previous week's revised figure, said the Labor Department.

The VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, declined by 1.56% to 18.34 shortly after the opening bell.

The dollar index was up 0.18% to 96.25, while the yield on 10-year US Treasury notes added 0.61% to 1.467%.

Precious metals were mixed with gold adding 0.04% to $1,804 per ounce, but silver decreasing 0.36% to $22.73.

Crude prices were slightly up with Brent crude trading at $75.37 per barrel with a 0.15% gain. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was at $72.84 -- a 0.11% increase.