Stocks trimmed earlier losses to end little changed on Friday, as investors saw dips in the market as an opportunity to buy into what's been a strong first month of 2012.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 74.17 points, or 0.58 percent, to end unofficially at 12,660.46. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 2.11 points, or 0.16 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,316.32. But the Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 11.27 points, or 0.40 percent, to close unofficially at 2,816.55.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)