Dow, S&P close higher as energy rallies

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 rose in light trading on Tuesday, extending December's rally, as cold weather in the Northeast lifted oil prices and energy shares.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange,
December 15, 2010. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

The Dow Jones industrial average (DJI:^DJI - News) was up 20.51 points, or 0.18 percent, at 11,575.54, according to the latest available figures. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (^SPX - News) was up 0.99 point, or 0.08 percent, at 1,258.53. The Nasdaq Composite Index (Nasdaq:^IXIC - News) was down 4.39 points, or 0.16 percent, at 2,662.88.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Kenneth Barry)