NEW YORK – U.S. stocks were little changed at the open Wednesday as surging oil prices offset surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders that calmed jitters about a weak economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 6.03 points, or 0.05 percent, at 11,406.84. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 0.94 point, or 0.07 percent, at 1,272.45. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 1.02 points, or 0.04 percent, at 2,360.95.

(Reporting by Steven C. Johnson; Editing by Kenneth Barry)