After an up and down series of economic reports, U. S. markets were flat on Wednesday.

The Commerce Department said housing starts in May fell 10 percent compared to April.

It has been further reported that along with the sharp drop in housing starts, permits issued in May dropped 5.9 percent compared to the previous month, indicating housing starts will be slow for the summer construction season.

But the Federal Reserve said industrial production rose faster than expected in the month and producer prices dropped 0.3 percent in May as high unemployment is keeping inflation at bay.

The Dow Jones industrial average, by close, was up just 4.69 points or 0.05 percent at 10,409.46.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 0.62 or 0.06 percent to 1,114.61.

Adding 0.05 points, less than 0.01 percent, the Nasdaq composite index reached to 2,305.93.

1,245 shares advanced and 1,796 declined on a volume of 5 billion shares traded, on the New York Stock Exchange.

The benchmark 10-year U. S. Treasury note rose 12/32 to yield 3.264 percent.

From Tuesday's $1.2347, the euro fell to $1.2309. The dollar, against the yen, rose to 91.452 yen from Tuesday's 91.38 yen. (With inputs from Agencies)