Stocks eke out small gain as investor malaise continues

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks managed to break a four-day losing streak today but only by the slimmest of margins.

Investors have had no change of heart about the economy, however, and again poured money into the safety of U.S. Treasurys.

The Dow Jones industrial average fluctuated along with the other big market indexes throughout the day. The Dow closed down just over a point, but the other indexes had slight gains. There were more winners than losers on the New York Stock Exchange.

Investors were dealing with more downbeat economic news. A regional manufacturing report fell short of forecasts and Japan became the latest country to show signs of slowing growth.

Both reports raised investors' concerns about the pace of the global economic recovery. Analysts said today's short buying spurt was just a pause following four days of losses that sent the Dow down almost 400 points.

"The market is really being controlled by [short-term] traders," said Mike Rubino, CEO at Rubino Financial Group in Troy, Mich. "The long-term investor doesn't appear to be anywhere in sight."