Dow falls 4.2%, S&P loses 2.6% in February as US stocks close in red

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 4.2% and the S&P 500 lost 2.6% in the month of February as US stock exchanges closed Tuesday in the red.

The blue-chip Dow fell 232 points, or 0.71%, to finish the last trading day of the month at 32,656. The S&P 500 lost 12 points, or 0.3%, to end the session at 3,970.

The Nasdaq decreased 11 points, or 0.1%, to close at 11,455. The tech-heavy index had a monthly decline of 1.1%.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, was down 1.2% at 20.69, while the 10-year US Treasury yield rose 0.2% to 3.930%.

The dollar index added 0.3% to 104.96, while the euro shed 0.3% to $1.0578 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in positive territory, with gold rising 0.5% to $1,826 per ounce and silver increasing 1.3% to $20.90.

Oil prices were up more than 1%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $83.14 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $76.83.