Stocks opened little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited key economic data for new signs of economic recovery, a day after the Dow and the S&P 500 closed at 15-month highs.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dipped 5.37 points, or 0.05 percent, to 10,578.59. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 0.07 points, or 0.01 percent, to 1,133.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed 0.38 points, or 0.02 percent, to 2,308.04.

The Commerce Department is to report November factory orders at 10 a.m. EST, with economists expecting a 0.5 percent rise, compared with a 0.6 percent gain in the prior month.

Investors will get a better picture of the state of consumer spending as automakers report U.S. vehicle sales for December.

(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)