Stocks closed higher amid rising prices for oil and gold, as the market hit new highs.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 32.85 points, or 0.27 percent, to close at 12,426.75, the highest close for the blue-chip index since June 5, 2008.
Cisco , American Express and JPMorgan led blue-chips higher, while Caterpillar and Pfizer fell.
The S&P 500 gained 2.91 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 1,335.54, breaking through a key resistance level at 1,333. It was the highest close for the broad market index since Feb. 18.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 8.63 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 2,799.82, also the highest close since Feb. 18.
The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, fell below 17.
Among key S&P sectors, financials and utilities rose, while materials and energy slipped.
The Russell 2000 Index of small caps rose slightly, but hit 854.65, its highest close since July 13, 2007.
Banks led the market higher as a new quarter got underway, and portfolio managers who had lightened positions in the first quarter moved back in, according to Scott Redler, chief strategic officer at T3live.com.
The sector was also helped by the prospect of rising rates, as well as "some clarity on the foreclosure mess," Redler says.
JPMorgan , Citigroup , and Wells Fargo were among gainers.
Technical factors continue to point to internal strength in the market, said Jack Ablin, U.S. portfolio strategist at Harris Private Bank. One of these factors is that a broad array of stocks have participated in the market's gains, even as two sectors — energy and industrials — dominated in the first quarter.
Also, Ablin points out, retail investors appear to be stepping back into the market.
"I’m getting the reading that the cash on the sidelines is filtering in," Ablin said.
(Read another view: Small Investors Avoid Stocks, So What Are They Buying?)
High oil prices pressured stocks throughout the session, particularly shares of energy and transportation companies.
London Brent crude rose to near 2 1/2-year highs to more than $122 a barrel and U.S. light crude retreated slightly after trading above $108 a barrel. (Read More: What Would Record Oil Mean for Stocks?)
AMR , United Continental and DeltaAir , all declined sharply as oil prices rose.
Also materials stocks, led by Monsanto , began to lose ground after the fertilizer producer reported disappointing revenue results, although the firm beat earnings estimates and confirmed guidance for the year.
And stocks closely dependent on oil prices also faded, such as Eastman Chemical, Dow Chemical and DuPont .
Other commodities also continued to climb to new levels. Gold prices hit an all-time high of $1,460 an ounceovernight, before retreating slightly to close at $1,457.70, a new record closing high. Silver also advanced to record levels, closing at $39.38.
The dollar , meanwhile, traded flat against a basket of currencies.