Stocks opened little changed on Thursday as a government report pointing to some stabilization in consumer spending overshadowed more bleak news on the labor market.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 2.23 points, or 0.03 percent, to 6,928.17. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 0.46 points, or 0.06 percent, to 721.82. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 2.95 points, or 0.22 percent, to 1,368.69.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos)

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