NEW YORK CITY: US stocks ended modestly higher Monday as investors appeared to take a breather in a semi-holiday session after Friday's strong rally on the back of encouraging jobs data.

At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 20.81 points (0.13 percent) at 15,782.59, striking a second consecutive record high.

The broad-based S&P 500 Index edged up 1.23 (0.07 percent) to 1,771.84, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite rose a scant 0.56 (0.01 percent) to 3,919.79.

Trading volume was thinner than usual because of the Veterans Day holiday, analysts said. The bond market was closed in observance of the holiday.