Nasdaq records best quarterly gain since 2020 as US exchanges post monthly gains

ISTANBUL

The Nasdaq recorded its best quarterly gain since 2020 on Friday's closing, while US stock exchanges posted massive gains for the month of March.

The tech-heavy index increased 208 points, or 1.74%, to end the session at 12,221. It jumped 16.7% during January-March period. It rose 6.7% this month.

The Dow Jones soared 415 points, or 1.26%, to finish the day at 33,274. The blue-chip index gained 0.38% in the first quarter, while it increased 1.89% during the month of March.

The S&P 500 rose 58 points, or 1.44% to close Friday at 4,109. The index increased 7% during the January-March period, while it rose 3.5% this month.

The VIX volatility index, also known as the fear index, shed 1.7% to 18.70, and the 10-year US Treasury yield lost 0.6% to at 3.479%.

The dollar index rose 0.4% to 102.58, while the euro fell 0.6% to $1.0857 against the greenback.

Precious metals were mixed, with gold losing 0.6% to $1,969 per ounce, but silver gaining 0.6% to $24.06.

Crude oil prices soared more than 1.5%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $79.84 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $75.62.