The Dow Jones industrial average rose 18.06 to a record 5,689.74, topping its previous high of 5,683.60 set on March 18.

Blue-chip stocks languished for most of the day until the final hour of trading, when the Dow swung into positive territory even as bond prices continued lower following two strong readings on the economy.

Broad-market indexes also were higher. The NYSE composite was up 0.21 at 351.81 and the S&P 500 list was up 0.62 at 655.88. The Nasdaq composite was up 4.56 at 1,115.86 and the Amex market value index was up 1.67 at 574.32.

Many investors were out of the market because of this week's Passover and Good Friday holidays, and ahead of a jobs report on Friday and a step-up in earnings reports expected next week.

The market will be closed in observance of Good Friday.

"Nobody wants to make any big bets in either the bond market or the stock market ahead of that employment report," said Anthony O'Brien of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. in St. Louis.

Bonds fell after the government reported that consumer spending and personal incomes rose in February.

Bond prices rebounded some after another report said factory orders fell 1.4 percent in February. But the decline was concentrated in the volatile transportation sector.