Stocks stay put as uncertainty over recovery lingers

Stocks rose early on yesterday's better-than-expected Alcoa (AA) results and lower-than-forecast unemployment data, only to decline in the mid-afternoon as an auction of government bonds drew relatively weak demand and billionaire Warren Buffett said an economic recovery isn't yet at hand. Ultimately, they closed little changed.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose just under 5 points, or 0.06 percent, to 8,183. Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) were among the average's biggest gainers amid a broader rally in financial shares.

For more on stocks making moves today, be sure to check out BloggingStocks' market wrap-up.