US technology stocks rose on Thursday, while blue chips were near unchanged as Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan reassured investors with comments on job creation.
Greenspan's comments to Congress helped offset concerns in the market over deadly bombings in Madrid and mixed economic data.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.96 point, or 0.01 percent, at 10,297.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 0.89 point, or 0.08 percent, at 1,123.00. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was up 12.40 points, or 0.63 percent, at 1,976.55.
Stocks have fallen for the past three sessions, pushing the Dow Jones industrials and Nasdaq Composite into losses for the year. The Nasdaq is still below the psychologically sensitive 2,000 mark.