Investors stayed cautious on Wednesday after a rally, leaving stocks up just slightly on the day despite solid reports on new home sales and durable goods orders.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 4.23 points, or 0.04 percent, to finish unofficially at 9,543.52. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up just 0.12 of a point, or 0.01 percent, at 1,028.12. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up just 0.20 of a point, or 0.01 percent, at 2,024.43.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Jan Paschal)