The Dow Industrials and the S&P 500 briefly turned positive to trade near breakeven on Thursday as signs of stabilization in consumer spending offset persistent worries about Greece's debt crisis.

Top U.S. retailers posted stronger-than-expected March same-store sales, benefiting from an early Easter holiday.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 4.39 points, or 0.04 percent, at 10,893.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dipped 0.56 points, or 0.05 percent, at 1,181.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 2.65 points, or 0.11 percent, at 2,428.51.

(Reporting by Ellis Mnyandu; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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