Stocks Opened Flat after Record-setting Run

U.S. stocks opened little changed on Wednesday as investors found little reason to push shares decisively one way or  the other. The Dow Jones industrial average lately was down 18.08 points, or 0.12 percent, at 15,038.12. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was down 0.74 points, or 0.05 percent, at 1,625.22. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 0.29 points, or 0.01 percent, at 3,396.34.

With the inflation rate about half of the Federal Reserve’s 2.0 percent target, the central bank is facing a major test and some experts wonder whether it will eventually need to ramp up its already aggressive bond buying program.

Target Corp is rolling out Cartwheel, a service that combines social networking and discounts, the latest attempt by a U.S. retailer to lure shoppers into its physical stores rather that seeing them buy from online rivals.

Yahoo Inc.’s (YHOO) Chief Executive Marissa Mayer has been unsuccessfully trying to exit its Internet-search partnership with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.