US stocks close higher with strong gains in tech firms' shares

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks closed higher Wednesday with strong gains in the technology sector.

The Dow added 323 points, or 1%, to finish the day at 32,717. The S&P 500 rose 56 points, or 1.42% to 4,027.

The Nasdaq soared 210 points, or 1.79%, to end the session at 11,926.

Chip maker Intel saw its stock price soar more than 7%, while cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase Global gained 3.6%. Zoom Video and Amazon rose 3% apiece.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, shed 4.2% to 19.14, and the 10-year US Treasury yield was flat at 3.570%.

The dollar index rose 0.25% to 102.68, while the euro lost 0.03% to $1.0840 against the greenback.

Precious metals were mixed, with gold trimming 0.5% to $1,964 per ounce; silver was flat at $23.33.

Crude oil prices were in negative territory, with global benchmark Brent crude at $77.58 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $72.97.