US stocks end mixed ahead of key jobs figures

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks closed mixed Thursday, a day before key jobs figures.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 194.76 points, or 0.56%, to finish at 34,395.01. The S&P 500 lost 3.54 points, or 0.087%, to 4,076.57.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq, on the other hand, added 14.45 points, or 0.13%, to close at 11,482.45.

US nonfarm payrolls and unemployment figures for November will be announced before the market opening on Friday, and the data will show how the job market was affected by the Federal Reserve's latest 75-basis-point rate hike last month.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 3.2% to 19.92. The 10-year US Treasury yield dove 5.2% to 3.508%.

The dollar index fell 1.2% to 104.69, still around its highest in 20 years, while the euro gained 1.1% to $1.0523 against the greenback.

Precious metals posted strong gains as gold soared 2% to $1,803 per ounce and silver jumped 2.6% to $22.77.

Oil prices were mixed. Global benchmark Brent crude was trading at $86.87 per barrel for a loss of 0.1%. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was around $81.25, up 0.9%.