US stocks edge higher in quiet, pre-holiday trade

U.S. stocks closed mostly higher Monday in quiet trading ahead of the New Year's holiday later this week.<br /> <br /> Several European markets fell as Greece headed for elections that could endanger its bailout program.<br /> <br /> The Dow Jones industrial average fell 15 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,038.<br /> <br /> The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose a point, or 0.1 percent, to 2,090. The Nasdaq composite was flat at 4,806.<br /> <br /> Trading was light. Volume was about two-thirds of the recent average on the New York Stock Exchange.<br /> <br /> Russia's ruble fell 8 percent after a rally last week.<br /> <br /> Benchmark U.S. crude dropped $1.12 to $53.61 a barrel in New York.<br /> <br /> Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.21 percent.

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