The Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 index briefly turned positive ahead of consumer sentiment and new home sales reports on Friday, while the Nasdaq remained in negative territory.

* The slight bounce, however, quickly evaporated as trading stayed choppy.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 8.46 points, or 0.09 percent, to 9,698.98. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 1.57 points, or 0.15 percent, to 1,049.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was off 8.66 points, or 0.41 percent, to 2,098.95.

(Reporting by Ellis Mnyandu; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)