US stocks close Wednesday mixed

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks closed mixed Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 280 points, or 0.87%, to 31,874, while the S&P 500 lost 27 points, or 0.7%, to 3,891.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq, on the other hand, rose 5.9 points, or 0.05% to 11,434.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, jumped 10.1% to 26.14, while the 10-year US Treasury yield fell 0.9% to 3.462%.

The dollar index rose 1.1% to 104.75, while the euro lost 0.1% to $1.0580 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in positive territory, with the price of gold rising 0.2% to $1,921 per ounce and silver adding 0.2% to $21.82.

Oil prices were mixed, with international benchmark Brent crude down 0.2% to $74.28 per barrel, but US-based benchmark West Texas Intermediate was at $68.47 with a 0.3% gain.