Stocks seesawed on Wednesday, shortly after opening lower, as investors await the unofficial beginning of the earnings season.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 9.07 points, or 0.09 percent, at 9,722.18. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 0.21 points, or 0.02 percent, at 1,054.51. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 0.32 points, or 0.02 percent, at 2,103.89.

(Reporting by Angela Moon; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)