Stocks pared gains on Monday after data showed sales of new single family homes fell in August.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 53.24 points, or 0.49 percent, to 10,824.72. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 0.08 points, or 0.01 percent, to 1,136.51. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 15.85 points, or 0.64 percent, to 2,467.38.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak)