Investors waiting for direction from election

NEW YORK – The stock market is waiting for the presidential election as much as anyone.

The U.S. stock market struggled for direction Monday. Stocks waffled between small gains and losses, but by mid-afternoon it seemed they would finish solidly lower. The Dow Jones industrial average fell as much as 108 points before rallying in the late afternoon to finish two points higher. There wasn’t any obvious catalyst for the turnaround, other than general indecision on the part of investors.

Earnings reports from toymaker Hasbro, clothing maker VF Corp., regional bank SunTrust and other companies were underwhelming. The overhang of the presidential election in two weeks didn’t help either. Investors are wary of making big moves before they know who’s going to be the next president.

“They need to know the playing field before they get out there and play,” said Jeff Savage, regional chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank in Portland.

David Katz, principal and senior portfolio strategist at WeiserMazars Wealth Advisors in New York, said it matters more that the election is wrapped up than who is elected.

“One could say the markets will rally stronger if the Republican candidate becomes president,” Katz said. “But one way or another, the markets will have direction, and the markets like direction.”

The Dow Jones industrial average ended virtually flat. It inched up 2.38 points, or 0.02 percent, to close at 13,345.89.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index was also little changed, edging up 0.63 point to 1,433.82. The Nasdaq composite index rose 11.34 to 3,016.96.

Besides the election, an economic report due Friday also has the markets in a holding pattern. That’s when the government is supposed to report how much the U.S. economy grew in the third quarter.