By Laura Mandaro, MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock indexes clung near the flat line Monday as investors regrouped after a 2% equity rise last week, getting some support from Apple Inc.'s dividend plans and housing data that underlined improvement in that sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) slid 8.55, or 0.1%, to 13,224.07, shaving about half its losses after the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo said their builders' sentiment index held at 28 in March, at a near five-year high. It's the first of a series of housing reports expected this week. "Housing seems to have bottomed over the past several months and is showing tentative signs of improvement; the many housing-related releases this week should confirm this," wrote Jason Pride, director of investment strategy for Glenmede. Tech shares, led by Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ), the most among the blue-chip index's 30 components. Bank of America Corp. (BAC) led the Dow's percentage gainers. The S&P 500 (SPX), which had turned higher ahead of the 10 a.m. housing data, traded up 1 point at 1,405. Financial stocks gained the most; industrials weighed. The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) edged up 1.21 point to 3,056.81. Its biggest component, Apple Inc. (AAPL), announced it would start paying a quarterly dividend in its fourth quarter, which runs July through September. Apple shares climbed 1.1% to $592.05. Last week, all three major indexes gained more than 2%, reaching pre- financial-crisis levels.
