Flat close as factory growth slows

The markets closed flat with the Dow rising 9 points to 17,832 as factory growth slowed in December. Nasdaq lost 9 points to 4,726.

On the upside

Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) reported that December same store sales climbed 5.3%.

Shares of Viggle (Nasdaq: VGGL) soared on expectations that the social television market will expand.

The Chilean Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX) of a ruling against the mining company but the stock price rose.

On the downside

Gentex (Nasdaq: GNTX) completed its 2-for-1 stock split.

Shares of NeuroDerm (Nasdaq: NDRM) extended its losses.

Investors locked in profits on Resolute Energy (NYSE: REN).

In the broad market, advancing issues outpaced decliners by a margin of nearly 5 to 4 on the NYSE while decliners edged out advancers by more than 5 to 4 on Nasdaq. The broader S&P 500 eased a fraction to 2058. Bitcoin held steady at $314.