ISTANBUL

Major US stock exchanges opened higher on Monday to kick off the new week on a higher note.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 315 points, or 0.78%, to 40,659 as of 9.59 a.m. EDT (1359GMT).

The S&P 500 rose 51 points, or 0.95% to 5,460. The Nasdaq Composite added 201 points, or 1.21%, to 16,893.

The VIX volatility index, referred to as the "fear index," fell 8.7% to 20.43. The 10-year US Treasury yield rose 0.66% to 3.730%.

The US dollar index increased 0.36% to 101.55, while the euro lost 0.37% against the dollar, trading at $1.1043.

Precious metals were in positive territory. Gold added 0.1% to $2,500 per ounce and silver rose 1% to $28.20 per ounce.

Oil prices increased around 0.4%, with global benchmark Brent crude at $71.28 per barrel and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate at $67.97 per barrel.