NEW YORK (August 6, 2012)--In the absence of major economic news, stocks were riding a tailwind of optimism Monday from the U.S. job numbers released last week and of hope for more action by European authorities to address the region's debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 22 points at close at 13,118.

The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index added three points to close at 1,394.

Earlier, the index came within half a point of 1,400, a level at which it hasn't traded since May 3.

The Nasdaq index rose 22 points to end the day at 2,990.

About two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange where volume was lower than average at 3 billion shares.