The Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.08 to 5,567.99. The sluggish blue-chip index continued to trade in a narrow range, moving little more than 20 points in either direction during the session.
Advancers led decliners by about 13 to 9 on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,386 up, 957 down and 776 unchanged. NYSE volume totaled 396.75 million shares vs. 462.12 million in the previous session.
Broad-market indexes ended slightly higher. The NYSE composite rose 0.53 to 350.82. The S&P 500 list gained 0.59 to 653.46. The Nasdaq composite index rose 2.37 to 1,186.54.
The Amex market value index rose 2.11 to 593.57.
The Nasdaq composite and the Russell 2000 index of smaller companies set new highs for the seventh straight session. The Nasdaq has surged about 8 percent in two weeks amid expectations its many technology issues and other smaller company stocks will benefit most from an improving economy. The Russell 2000 has risen more than 5 percent in that period.
The American Stock Exchange's market value index, which is also dominated by smaller companies, rose to its second consecutive record close and eighth in nine sessions.
Friday's bond prices were almost unchanged, with long-term interest rates holding below 6.8 percent.