Dow Closes at New High

15,747, a .8 percent increase

The U.S. stock market continued its record-setting pace, with the Dow Jones industrial average setting a new high at the close.

The Dow ended up 0.8%, rising 129 points to close at 15,747 -- well above its Oct. 29 record close of 15,680.35. In earlier trading, the S&P 500 also topped its previous closing peak of 1771.95, gaining 0.6%, before settling back a bit. It ended up 0.4%.

The Nasdaq composite, too, was up 0.4% early and at a fresh 13-year high. But it sank as the day wore on and ended down 0.2%.