Bush speech improves little

US STOCKS were little changed yesterday afternoon, largely shrugging off a highly-anticipated speech from President George W Bush regarding corporate responsibility and instead focusing on continued corporate weakness, particularly in technology.

About 1.20pm, the Nasdaq composite index rose 2.42 to 1,408.03. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 10.65 to 9,285.55. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 3.93 to 973.05.

“I am calling for a new ethic in corporate responsibility,” Mr Bush said.