US stocks close Thursday higher before jobs figures

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks closed higher on Thursday, a day before the critical jobs figures are released.

The Dow Jones rose just 2.5 points, or 0.01%, to close at 33,485. The blue-chip index posted a gain of 0.6% this week.

The S&P 500 added 14 points, or 0.36% to 4,105. For the week, the index declined 0.1% and recorded its first weekly loss in the past month.

The Nasdaq increased 91 points, or 0.76%, to finish the session at 12,087 and end its 3-day losing streak. However, the tech-heavy index decreased 1.1% for the week.

The New York Stock Exchange will be closed next session due to observance of Good Friday, but investors will closely watch jobs figures that will be released at 8.30 a.m. EDT.

US economy added 311,000 jobs in February, while the unemployment rate rose to 3.6%, according to the Labor Department's figures last month.

For March, the market estimates are 239,000 job additions and unemployment rate remaining steady at 3.6%.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, fell 3.5% to 18.42, while the 10-year US Treasury yield climbed 0.4% to 3.299%.

The dollar index added 0.1% to 101.89, while the euro rose 0.2% to $1.0922 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in negative territory, with gold losing 0.7% to $2,006 per ounce and silver trimming 0.2% to $24.90.

Oil prices lost around 0.1%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $84.92 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $80.50.