June 17 (Reuters) - U.S. stock indexes opened flat to

lower, with the benchmark S&P 500 retreating from record highs

as investors awaited fresh economic data and comments from

Federal Reserve officials throughout the week for more clarity

on monetary policy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 23.98 points,

or 0.06%, at the open to 38,565.18.

The S&P 500 opened lower by 0.49 points, or 0.01%, at

5,431.11, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 8.42 points,

or 0.05%, to 17,697.30 at the opening bell.

(Reporting by Lisa Mattackal in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika

Syamnath)