US stocks little changed after Greece deal

Vietnam Tribune (IANS) Thursday 9th February, 2012

US stocks traded in a very narrow range around the breakeven line Thursday as investors felt little thrilled after Greek political leaders had agreed on austerity cuts after a dangerous deadlock.

Investors were taking a close watch on Greece as the nation's prime minister went to Brussels to talk with European leaders, hoping to secure the second round of bailout money to avoid a disastrous default, Xinhua reported.

Domestically, Thursday's jobs data came in better than expected, reassuring investors the battered jobs market was steadily picking up.

According to the Labor Department, the number of people applying for jobless benefits dropped 15,000 to a seasonally- adjusted 358,000 last week, which was the second-lowest level in about four years.

In midday trading, the Dow Jones industrial average slipped 17. 67 points, or 0.14 percent, at 12,866.28. The Standard Poor's 500 edged down 0.51 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,349.45. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.77 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,918. 63.