US stocks little changed after consumer prices rise

Wall Street stocks Tuesday opened little changed after data on US consumer prices showed a rise in February for the first time in four months.

Five minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 18,101.95, down 14.09 points (0.08 percent).

The broad-based S&P 500 slipped 1.23 (0.06 percent) to 2,103.19, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.53 (0.01 percent) at 5,011.50.

The consumer price index increased 0.2 percent month-over-month in February, thanks in part to a rally in energy prices during the month.

Ryan Sweet of Moody`s Analytics said core prices will continue to be pressured by volatile oil prices and the strong US dollar.