Stocks opened flat on Wednesday as data showing higher-than-expected private-sector job losses in July sparked caution about the strength of the economic recovery.

* Procter & Gamble Co

posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit, but its shares slipped 2.7 percent to $53.93 as investors fretted about the company's sales and forecast.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 24.78 points, or 0.27 percent, to 9,295.41. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> shed 0.53 points, or 0.05 percent, to 1,005.12. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 0.89 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,012.20.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)