US stocks open with mixed signals on Friday

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks opened on Friday with mixed figures amid uncertainty in global markets related to the Russia-Ukraine war.

With the US announcing fresh sanctions on Moscow, President Joe Biden asked for Russia's removal from the G20 countries.

On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the "first phase" of its "military operation" in Ukraine was complete, about a month after it began on Feb. 24.

Amid these developments, the Dow Jones industrial average was up by 93.87 points to 34,801 at 9.50 a.m. EDT (1150GMT).

The S&P 500 rose 11.26 points to 4,531, while the Nasdaq was down by 4.55 points to 14,187.

The VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, decreased 0.78% to 21.5. The dollar index rose by 0.12% to 98.700.

Precious metals were also on the rise, with gold going down 0.6% to $1,950.5 per ounce and silver decreasing 1.22% to $25.605.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading at $117.3 as of 1350 GMT.