NEW YORK -- U.S. stocks ended nearly flat Thursday as a rally in health-care shares after earnings from companies such as Schering-Plough Corp. offset worries China may take steps that reduce demand for U.S. goods.

The Dow eked out a record closing high for a second day.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 5.20 points, or 0.04 percent, to end unofficially at a record 12,809.04. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 1.73 points, or 0.12 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,470.77. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 5.15 points, or 0.21 percent, to close unofficially at 2,505.35.

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