US Stocks end choppy session mixed (ext)

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- U.S. stocks seesawed between small gains and losses Monday but remained in a narrow range at the start of a holiday-shortened week, as investors began to shift their focus to 2011.

The three major indexes closed on either side of the breakeven point. The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 14 points, or 0.1%, with about 13 of the 30 companies in the blue-chip index in the red.

The S&P 500 (SPX) rose 3 points, or 0.3%, to close at the highest level since September 2008.

The three major indexes have been rising to two-year highs during the last few weeks, since President Obama announced the compromise deal on the Bush-era tax rates. Last Friday, the president signed a tax-cut plan into law.

"We've had a pretty good move up in the market that now needs to be digested," said Rob Lutts, chief investment officer at Cabot Money Management. "The market is going through its natural process of backing up a bit."

With many investors getting ready to close their books and escape their desks for the holidays, Lutts expects stocks will continue to trade in a tight range.

"Unless there's any unexpected news, markets should fall into a holding pattern and remain fairly quiet through the holiday period," he said.

The dollar fell against the Japanese yen, but edged higher against the euro and the British pound.

Oil for January delivery rose 79 cents to settle $88.81 a barrel.

Gold futures for February delivery rose $6.90 cents to $1,386.10 an ounce.

Bonds: The price on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury edged up, pushing the yield down to 3.34%.