U.S. stocks cut gains and the Dow industrials briefly turned negative on Thursday as Brent oil futures rose to a 10-month high on renewed concerns about political instability in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 3.82 points, or 0.03 percent, to 12,955.89. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 5.30 points, or 0.39 percent, to 1,370.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 18.13 points, or 0.61 percent, to 2,985.02.

(Reporting By Edward Krudy; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)