The Dow industrials turned negative on Thursday after a Federal Reserve index of factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region came in below expectations.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 10.30 points, or 0.08 percent, to 12,568.65. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 0.61 points, or 0.05 percent, to 1,308.65. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 7.88 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,777.59.

(Reporting By Edward Krudy; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)