Stock indexes edge higher ahead of talks on Greece

NEW YORK (AP) — Stock indexes were swinging from losses to gains ahead of talks in Europe on containing that region’s debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average is up 11 points to 11,117 in midday trading. It had been down as many as 112 points within an hour after the opening bell.

The S&P 500 index is up 3 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,176. The Nasdaq is up 16, or 0.6 percent, to 2,548.

The gains came despite a report that retail sales were flat in August. People spent less on autos, clothing and furniture as fears mounted that the country was slipping into a recession.

The leaders of Greece, France and Germany will confer by teleconference later today to seek ways of avoiding a default by Greece.