Stocks briefly turned positive in choppy trade on Wednesday as earnings reports offset investor concerns about Germany's decision to ban certain types of short selling.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was off 7.56 points, or 0.07 percent, to 10,503.39. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 1.18 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1,121.98. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 1.26 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,318.52.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)