Monday's Headliners: Automakers

After a rough ride in November, investors will get to ease into a new month with what looks to be a relatively calm day Monday.

The earnings calendar is sparse, while the lone economic release slated is the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index -- though that report is always a potential market mover.

Some of the bigger corporate news will come at midday, when major automakers report their U.S. sales for November. The results are widely expected to be weak amid a dropoff in consumer confidence and a perceived slowdown in the economy.

Investors will be watching to see if No. 1 automaker General Motors(GM Quote) can pull out any sales gains as it works to turn around its business.

Meanwhile, Toyota(TM Quote) and Ford(F Quote) have been switching places monthly to hold the spot as the nation's No. 2 automaker. Will Toyota surpass Ford as the Detroit automaker struggles with big declines?

On TheStreet.com, staff reporter Lawrence Carrel will explain why you might see a bigger tax bill this year from mutual fund distributions, even with the market's lackluster performance. Also, airline reporter Ted Reed looks at why US Airways(LCC Quote) has lost a significant amount of its value two years after its heralded merger with America West.