US stocks open lower on last trading session of 2022

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) – US stocks opened lower on Friday to kick off the last trading session of 2022 with losses.

The Dow Jones fell 243 points, or 0.73%, to 32,977 at 9.55 a.m. EDT. The S&P 500 declined 35 points, or 0.92%, to 3,814.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq decreased 130 points, or 1.25%, to 10,347 at the time.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, increased 3.6% to 22.22. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 1.3% to 3.884%.

The dollar index fell 0.13% to 103.70, while the euro added 0.31% to $1.0694 against the greenback.

Precious metals were mixed, with the price of gold rising 0.2% to $1,818 per ounce but silver retreating 1.15% to $23.63 an ounce.

Crude oil prices were in positive territory with gains over 1%. Global benchmark Brent crude was up 1.4% to $84.66 per barrel. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was around $79.34 – up 1.2%.