The Dow industrials edged slightly higher on Monday, buoyed by gains in industrial, consumer discretionary and energy stocks, but gains were slight as sliding German business sentiment added to concerns about global economic growth.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 8.96 points, or 0.07 percent, to 13,588.43. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 1.26 points, or 0.09 percent, to 1,458.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 16.21 points, or 0.51 percent, to 3,163.75.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by James Dalgleish)