Stocks opened little changed on Tuesday as continued uncertainty over plans to stem the escalating debt crisis in Europe kept investors on edge.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 13.40 points, or 0.12 percent, at 11,047.72. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 1.32 points, or 0.11 percent, at 1,163.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 8.37 points, or 0.34 percent, at 2,503.46.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)