US stock-market opens flat on Wachovia, retail

NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks opened little changed on Monday after a surprise gain in March retail sales helped calm nerves on Wall Street after an unexpected quarterly loss by Wachovia Corp (WB.N), the fourth-largest U.S. bank.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was down 1.71 points, or 0.01 percent, at 12,323.71. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) was down 0.83 point, or 0.06 percent, at 1,332.00. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was down 3.22 points, or 0.14 percent, at 2,287.02.

(Agencies)