U.S. stocks were little changed on Monday after the Chicago purchasing managers index, a gauge of regional business activity in the U.S. Midwest, expanded more than expected in November.

Investors also weighed early signals about the strength of holiday retail sales, and concerns of a possible debt default by two of Dubai's flagship firms lingered.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 3.55 points, or 0.03 percent, to 10,306.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 0.42 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,091.07. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dipped 6.05 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,132.39.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

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