Investors cautious ahead of Iraqi handover

Stocks wobbled in and out of positive territory today, settling near unchanged levels as the market shrugged off a pair of economic reports that suggested continued strength in the recovery.

A surge in manufacturing activity and better-than-expected data on housing construction failed to impress investors, who are preoccupied with two events expected at the end of the month: an interest rate hike and the handover of political power in Iraq.