US stocks close day mixed ahead of Fed meeting

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) – Major US stock indexes closed Tuesday mixed a day before the Federal Reserve's meeting for the interest rate hike.

Investors expect the Fed will increase the interest rates by 75 basis points.

The Dow Jones dropped 151.91 points, or 0.50%, to close at 30,364.83.

The S&P 500 lost 14.15 points, or 0.38%, to end the day at 3,735.48.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq was up by 19.12 points, or 0.18%, to finish at 10,828.35.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, was down 3.91% to 32.69 as of 4.47 p.m. Eastern Time (2047GMT).

The dollar index rose 0.29% to 105.275 and the 10-year US Treasury yield increased 3.26% to 3.48%.

Precious metals were in the negative side, as gold dropped 1.15% to $1,810.7, and silver was down 1.28% to $20.98.

The global benchmark Brent crude was trading at $120.95 a barrel for a 1.08% decline, while the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was at $118.91 – a 1.67% decrease.