Trading was choppy on a day of little economic news, and because of yesterday's so-called quadruple-witching day — the quarterly expiration of index futures and options as well as individual stock futures and options.

"It's been an amazing week, and we're trying to add to some of the gains," said Peter Dunay, chief market strategist at Wall Street Access, a New York-based brokerage firm.

He cited better-than-expected reports earlier in the week that pointed to strong manufacturing and low inflation.

"The economics are getting so much attention that as long as they stay positive" investors are looking to buy, Dunay said.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 30.14, or 0.3 percent, at 10,278.22, for a four-day gain of 255 points. The blue-chip average finished at the highest level since May 17, 2002, when it stood at 10,353.08.

But the broader market finished lower. The Nasdaq composite index declined 5.16, or 0.3 percent, to 1,951.02.

And the Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 0.52, or 0.1 percent, to 1,088.66. On Thursday, the index rose to its highest closing level since May 23, 2002.

For the week, the Dow advanced 2.4 percent, the Nasdaq edged up 0.1 percent and the S&P rose 1.4 percent. The Dow and S&P's four-week winning streak was the longest since a stretch that ended Sept. 5; for the Nasdaq, it was the third winning week in four.

"The market did come in a little bit, but what we're seeing here is a normal quadruple-witching day," said Peter Cardillo, president of Global Partner Securities.