The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 index turned negative after a report showed sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes unexpectedly fell to their lowest level in seven months in November, shaking confidence in recent signs of stabilization in the housing market.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq was buoyed after chipmaker Micron Technology recorded its first quarterly profit in almost three years.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 9.68 points, or 0.09 percent, at 10,455.25. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 0.39 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,117.63. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 3.70 points, or 0.16 percent, at 2,256.37.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)