The Dow and S&P 500 ended down slightly on Monday, held in check by worries about Europe's debt crisis, frustrating investors looking for a reason to take stocks to new highs on the year.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> slipped 19.90 points, or 0.17 percent, to end at 11,362.19. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 1.59 points, or 0.13 percent, to 1,223.12. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 3.46 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,594.92.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)