US stocks were flat on Thursday, with investors seemingly wary of taking on risk ahead of Donald Trump’s swearing-in as US president on Friday. After having driven Wall Street to record highs in a post-election rally, investors are on the sidelines as they await Trump’s inaugural speech to get a steer on his policies. Markets are also eyeing a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. "Investors’ concerns on Trump delivering his campaign promises is probably the real ‘Fear Factor’," Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at First Standard Financial wrote in a note. With the fourth-quarter earnings season picking up pace, Dow components IBM and American Express, scheduled to report results after market close, will be in focus. In an appearance on Wednesday, Yellen said the US economy was getting closer to running on its own, but soothed some nerves by adding that it made sense to raise interest rates gradually. Yellen is expected to speak on monetary policy at Stanford University...
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