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. ...