US stocks kick off new trading week with losses

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) – US stocks were down on Tuesday to begin the new trading week with losses.

US markets were closed on Monday for Presidents' Day.

The Dow Jones plummeted 314 points, or 0.93%, to 33,512 at 9.39 a.m. EDT (1439GMT) on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 dropped by 36 points, or 0.9%, to 4,042.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 117 points, or 1%, to start the week at 11,669.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, jumped 4.8% to 22.24. The 10-year US Treasury yield, meanwhile, rose 2% to 3.906%.

The dollar index was up 0.2% to 104.05, while the euro declined 0.1% to $1.0669 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in positive territory, with gold adding 0.1% to $1,843 an ounce and silver rising 0.6% to $21.95.

Crude oil prices were mixed as global benchmark Brent crude fell 0.4% to $83.76 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate increased 0.9% to $77.22.​​​​​​​