NEW YORK (March 7, 2013)—Stocks closed higher for a fifth straight day Thursday pushing the Dow further into record territory.

The Dow Jones industrial average, which surpassed its previous all-time high two days ago, closed up 33 points to end the day at 14,329.

The Standard & Poor's 500 rose nearly three points to close at 1,544.

The S&P is now about 20 points away from its own record high close.

The Nasdaq rose nine points to end at 3,232.

The Dow and S&P gained 0.2 percent, the Nasdaq 0.3 percent.

The catalyst for the advance was the latest evidence that hiring is picking up: a decline in unemployment applications.

Kroger rose 3 percent after reporting strong earnings.

Three stocks rose for every two that fell on the New York Stock Exchange where volume was average at 3.5 billion shares.