NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slightly pared losses on Thursday after U.S. existing home sales surged in December, offering hope for a sector struggling to recover from its worst slump in modern history.
The Dow Jones industrial average was down 23.31 points, or 0.20 percent, at 11,801.98. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was down 3.55 points, or 0.28 percent, at 1,278.37. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 18.12 points, or 0.66 percent, at 2,707.24.