Dow Fights to New High

Updated from 4:06 p.m. EDT

Though it certainly wasn't easy, the Dow Jones Industrial Average attracted enough buying interest Friday afternoon to reach another record finish and edge closer to 12,000.

After the government released much weaker-than-expected retail-sales data, the Dow was pressured for much of the session. However, a late push allowed the industrials to end up by 12.81 points, or 0.11%, at 11,960.51.

Providing support were gains of 1.6% in IBM(IBM Quote) and 1.3% in Hewlett-Packard(HPQ Quote).

The S&P 500 tacked on 2.79 points, or 0.2%, to 1365.62, and the Nasdaq Composite added 11.11 points, or 0.47%, to 2357.29, benefiting from a 4.7% rise in Lam Research(LRCX Quote).

For the week, the Dow rose 110 points, or 0.9%, the S&P 500 gained 16 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq was higher by 57 points, or 2.5%.

"This was not a bad week, with the Dow surpassing and reaching highs," said Paul Nolte, director of investments with Hinsdale Associates. "We may come back to retest those levels next week. The economic data hung over us today, but we saw buyers taking advantage on some names to end the day."

About 2.50 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, and volume on the Nasdaq was roughly 1.99 billion shares. Winners outpaced losers 3 to 2.

On Thursday, the Dow finished above 11,900 for the first time ever, rising 95.57 points to 11,947.70.