(CNBC) — U.S. stocks closed narrowly mixed on Monday, amid fresh lows on oil prices and earlier pressure on European stocks from Greece's failure to elect a president.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average had the narrowest range of trade for December, and the narrowest range since the day before Thanksgiving, Nov. 26.
The Russell 2000 and the Dow Utility Average closed up at new highs, up 4.75 percent and 31.14 percent for the year, respectively. Both indices have led market gains since the S&P 500 closed at a 1.5-month low on Dec. 16.
The S&P 500 posted its 53rd record close for the year, boosted by a 1.11 percent gain in the defensive utilities sector.