(Reuters) -- Stocks held firm near recent five-month highs on Wednesday as markets awaited key bond market tests for Europe in the next two days that could determine the direction of the euro zone crisis.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 14.45 points, or 0.12 percent, at 12,448.02. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 0.26 point, or 0.02 percent, at 1,292.34. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 7.96 points, or 0.29 percent, at 2,710.46.

(Reporting By Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)