Stocks traded near breakeven in a volatile session on Thursday as traders took heart from moves by the European Central Bank to shore up the region's banking system, although its decision to keep interest rates unchanged disappointed some.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 8.25 points, or 0.08 percent, to 10,948.20. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 1.28 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1,145.31. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 9.15 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,469.66.

Water