S&P 500, Nasdaq post highest closing of year

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq posted their highest closing on Thursday as US exchanges ended the day with gains.

The S&P 500 added 37 points, or 0.85%, to finish at 4,510. The Nasdaq jumped 219 points, or 1.58%, to 14,138.

The Dow Jones increased 47 points, or 0.14%, to end the day at 34,395.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, rose 0.5% to 13.61. The 10-year US Treasury yield, meanwhile, lost 2.6% to 3.762%.

The dollar index lost 0.76% to 99.76, while the euro gained 0.88% to $1.1226 against the greenback.

Precious metals were on the rise, with gold adding 0.15% to $1,960 per ounce and silver soaring 3.1% to $24.87.

Oil prices were up around 2%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $81.70 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $77.28.