The Dow gained 23.09 points, to close at 6,567.18, surpassing Dec. 27's all-time best close at 6,560.91. The Dow fell back from a 75-point gain that boosted the index above 6,600 for the first time.
Advancing issues led decliners by a 5-to-4 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,434 up, 1,130 down and 785 unchanged. NYSE volume was 527.10 million shares, vs. 451.95 million Friday.
Broader measures also pulled back with bonds as rising oil prices aggravated renewed inflation concerns and growing challenges to Newt Gingrich's bid to remain Speaker of the House spurred worries about continued deficit reduction by Congress.
The Standard & Poor's 500-stock list fell 0.36 to 747.67, and the NYSE's composite index rose 0.22 to 394.28. The Nasdaq composite index rose 5.74 to 1,316.42, and the American Stock Exchange composite index fell 0.39 to 572.06.
As bond prices fell today, the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond - a key determinant of corporate and consumer borrowing costs - rose from late Friday's 6.73 percent to 6.77 percent, the high level since late October.
Bond-market rates jumped last week after some unexpectedly strong data raised concerns economy growth has not slowed enough to contain inflation, which can make fixed-income investments such as bonds less attractive.