US stocks close flat in quiet trade

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on August 20, 2012 in New York City. AFP

NEW YORK—US stocks closed flat Monday in a quiet market lacking significant US economic news, allowing investors to focus on developments in the eurozone’s public debt crisis.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 3.72 points (0.03 percent) at 13,271.48 in closing trade.

The S&P 500-stock index lost a bare 0.11 point (0.01 percent) at 1,418.05, while the tech-rich Nasdaq edged down 0.38 point (0.01 percent) to 3,076.21.

“The recent improved eurozone crisis sentiment is being hamstrung by conflicting reports on the European Central Bank’s sovereign debt purchases,” Charles Schwab & Co. analysts said.