US stocks open mixed after indexes' record high

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - US stocks opened mixed on Monday after major indexes finished last week at their record high levels.

The Dow was down 20 points, or 0.1%, to 35,035 at 9.38 a.m. EDT (1338GMT) after the blue-chip index saw a new all-time high of 35,097 points shortly after opening bell.

The S&P 500 was flat at 4,412 at the time -- just 3 points shy of its record high level of 4,415 seen on Friday.

The Nasdaq declined 19 points, or 0.1%, to 14,819 after it saw a new record high of 14,846 at the final trading day of the previous week.

The dollar index lost 0.2% 92.71, while the yield on 10-year US Treasury notes decreased 0.7% to 1.276%.

The VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, on the other hand, soared 6.9% to 18.39.

While gold was up 0.1% to $1,803 per ounce, silver added 0.3% to $25.26.

Investors will focus on the US Federal Reserve's two-day meeting that will conclude on Wednesday.

Although the Fed is expected to keep its interest rate unchanged, its messages about when to end its asset purchasing program will be closely watched.