US stocks open Thursday higher with gain in GDP

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks opened higher on Thursday with the GDP posting an increase in the first quarter.

The Dow was up 215 points, or 0.65%, to 33,516 at 9.58 a.m. EDT. The S&P 500 gained 31 points, or 0.77%, to 4,087.

The Nasdaq climbed 115 points, or 0.98%, to 11,969.

The US economy expanded 1.1% in the first quarter, according to the Commerce Department's first reading released earlier.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, plummeted 6.5% to 17.61. Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury yield rose 2.1% to 3.503%.

The dollar index rose 0.3% to 101.75, while the euro shed 0.26% to $1.1011 against the greenback.

Precious metals were in negative territory, with gold falling 0.3% to $1,982 per ounce and silver trimming 0.5% to $24.74.

Oil prices were up around 0.8%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $78.34 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at $75.03.