Nasdaq suffers worst monthly performance in almost 14 years

ANKARA

The Nasdaq on Friday suffered its worst monthly performance in almost 14 years, as tech companies' disappointing quarterly financial results ignited a selloff.

The tech-heavy index was down 536 points, or 4.17%, to 12,334 at the final bell on Friday.

On a monthly basis, it plummeted 13.3% in April, its worst decline since October 2008, when the global financial crisis caused a bloodbath in US markets.

The Dow Jones dove 939 points, or 2.77%, to 32,977 and the S&P 500 lost 155 points, or 3.63%, to 4,131.

The dollar index decreased 0.44% to 103.17.

The VIX volatility index, known as the fear index, soared 11.3% to 33.39, while the yield on 10-year US Treasury notes rose 2% to 2.920%.

Precious metals were mixed, with gold adding 0.1% to $1,896 but silver shedding 1.7% to $22.76.

Crude oil prices were down. Global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading at $106.78, down 0.45%, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $104.41 – a 0.9% loss.