US stocks slightly higher as price of crude oil stabilizes

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks were mostly flat in early trading today, helped by a stabilization in oil prices. Chipotle Mexican Grill fell on more worries about the safety of its food.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 30 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,280 as of 10:12 a.m. Eastern. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose three points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,023 and the Nasdaq composite rose four points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,974.

Markets are searching for direction as the flow of economic data slows dramatically until after the new year. Investors have already had plenty of time to digest this month's major decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise rates and by the European Central Bank to increase its stimulus efforts.

"Today appears to be providing confirmation that unpredictability, inconsistency and choppiness will likely dominate the festive period amid lower volumes," said Joshua Mahony, market analyst at IG.

At this point, many fund managers and traders have closed their books for 2015. The holiday-shortened weeks of Christmas and New Year's also are contributing to lower trading volumes.