U.S. stocks pared losses with the Dow and the Nasdaq turning positive early Wednesday, supported by energy and information technology stocks.

The moves came a day after the Dow and the S&P advanced to their highest close in about 2 1/2 years.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 1.51 points, or 0.01 percent, at 12,041.67. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 1.54 points, or 0.12 percent, at 1,306.05. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.52 points, or 0.06 percent, at 2,752.71.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)