The Dow Jones industrial average gained about 33.83 points to close at 6,522.85, moving within 25 points of its record close of 6,547.79.
Advancers led decliners by a 10-to-9 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,178 up, 1,077 down and 929 unchanged.
NYSE volume was 167.17 million shares at the early 1 p.m. close. That was down sharply from 192.58 million shares traded by 1 p.m. yesterday and 339.96 million for yesterday's full session.
Broad-market measures were mostly positive as well today. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 4.11 to 751.03, and the NYSE's composite index rose 1.71 to 395.00. The Nasdaq index rose 8.11 to 1,287.63, and the American Stock Exchange's market value index rose 0.37 to 581.35.
The technology-laden Nasdaq market shot higher over the last half hour as bargain hunters bid up some computer-related issues that had dipped on profit-taking over the previous two sessions.
"What we're seeing is a traditional updraft in a light volume environment," said Alan Ackerman, senior vice president at Fahnestock & Co.
"At this time of year, you tend to see a pre-Christmas rally. Many sellers have completed their tax selling. It's nothing to crow about, and yet its a continuation of the market's amazing performance this year," he said.