US stocks continue in negative, down for 3rd straight trading day

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - US stocks continued to trade in negative territory for a third straight trading day Thursday.

The Dow was down 3 points, or 0.01%, to 33,551 at 12.20 p.m. EDT.

While the S&P 500 lost 21 points, or 0.55%, to 3,936, the Nasdaq plummeted 53 points, or 0.48%, to 11,130.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, rose 0.4% to 24.21. The 10-year US Treasury yield added 2.1% to 3.771%.

The dollar index increased 0.5% to 106.87, still around its highest in 20 years, while the euro fell 0.5% to $1.0340 against the greenback.

Precious metals were down, with gold falling 0.8% to $1,758 per ounce and silver losing 2.5% to $20.93.

Oil prices dropped more than 3%. Global benchmark Brent crude traded at $89.94 per barrel for a loss of 3.2%. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was around $81.83 -- down 4.4%.