Wall St. flat as materials gain, financials off

Stocks opened little changed on Thursday, a day after the Dow pushed to a 17-month high, as gains in materials shares were offset by declines in financial companies.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) gained 15.57 points, or 0.15 percent, to 10,749.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) edged up 0.14 point, or 0.01 percent, to 1,166.35. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) dropped 0.63 point, or 0.03 percent, to 2,388.46.