The Dow slipped into negative territory at midday on Wednesday, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 pared gains as a rise in financial shares was offset by declines in energy shares.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 15.87 points, or 0.15 percent, at 10,548.51. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 1.73 points, or 0.15 percent, at 1,142.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 10.82 points, or 0.46 percent, at 2,351.50.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)