Indexes open little changed; housing data helps

NEW YORK, Mar 20 (Reuters) U.S. stocks opened little changed on Tuesday as signs of strength in housing and talk of another spate of big takeover deals offset caution before the Federal Reserve's meeting on interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 3.92 points, or 0.03 percent, at 12,222.25. The Standard&Poor's 500 Index was down 0.48 point, or 0.03 percent, at 1,401.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 0.77 point, or 0.03 percent, at 2,395.18.

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