US stocks open lower despite positive jobs figures

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - US stocks opened lower Friday although jobs figures in June came positive to beat market estimates.

The Dow was down 75 points, or 0.24% to 31,310 at 9.33 a.m. EDT (1333GMT). The S&P fell 16 points, or 0.42%, to 3,885.

The Nasdaq declined 102 points, or 0.88%, to 11,520.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 0.12% to 26.05. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 1.1% to 3.041%.

The dollar index was up 0.04% to 107.17.

Precious metals were on the rise with gold adding 0.05% to $1,741 and silver increasing 0.15% to $19.25.

After plummeting more than 8% Tuesday, crude prices have continued to climb further.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading at $105.85 per barrel for a 1.1% gain, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $104.08 -- up 1.3%.

The US economy added 372,000 jobs in June, above the market estimate of 268,000, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6%, the Labor Department announced earlier.

Job additions in May, however, were revised down by 6,000, from 390,000 to 384,000.