* FOMC to release minutes from April 26-27 meeting
* Staples slashes outlook; shares plunge
* Stocks: Dow up 0.2 pct, S&P, Nasdaq flat
* For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Updates to open)
By Angela Moon
NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on Wednesday with investors hesitant to make bets before the Federal Reserve's assessment of the economy later in the day.
The Federal Open Market Committee, which sets interest-rate policy, will release minutes of its April 26-27 meeting at 2 p.m. (1800 GMT). Investors will look for hints about the Fed's "QE2" stimulus program, which is widely expected to end in June, and will scrutinize any disagreements among officials.
Investors are also cautious about the economic outlook after Tuesday's data showing weakness in factory output and housing starts.
"Things are tepid right now, especially after some weak economic numbers recently. Once we digest the Fed minutes, the market will be able to see more direction," said Stephen J. Carl, head equity trader at Williams Capital Group in New York.
Dell's
But Staples Inc's
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 25.74 points, or 0.21 percent, at 12,453.84. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 1.19 points, or 0.09 percent, at 1,327.79. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 1.16 points, or 0.04 percent, at 2,784.37.
The S&P 500 <.SPX> and the Dow <.DJI> dipped below their 50-day moving averages on Tuesday. (Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Kenneth Barry)