U.S. stock markets flat, energy sector sees drop

Greek debt meeting begins, outcome awaited

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks closed effectively flat in quiet trading Wednesday as investors waited to see what the outcome would be of an emergency meeting between Greece and the rest of the eurozone to discuss the country’s finances.
Energy stocks were among the biggest decliners as the price of oil fell.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged down 6.62 points, or 0.04 percent, to 17,862.14. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index closed flat, down 0.06 of a point to 2,068.53 and the Nasdaq composite rose 13.54 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,801.18.
Once again, investors turned their eyes to Europe. Finance ministers from nations that use the euro held an emergency meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, the group’s first opportunity to hear directly from Greece’s new government.
Greece wants to renegotiate the terms of its international bailout, which has imposed years of punishing austerity on the country. The current agreement expires in late February. Speculation that Greece could be granted extra time to hold new negotiations lifted markets Tuesday.
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