Wall Street ends within striking distance of record highs

U.S. stock indices closed mixed but near record highs following earlier data from the world's largest economy, showing GDP growth at 1.2% in the first quarter according to the second reading, up from 0.7% in the first reading, and past expectations of 0.9%.

GDP prices rose 2.2%, down from 2.3% in the previous reading, while durable goods orders fell 0.7% in April, compared to a 0.9% rise in March, and besting forecasts of a 1.4% drop. 

Core orders fell 0.4%, compared to no-change in March, while analysts expected a 0.4% rise, reflecting the possibility of continued slowdown in US growth in the second quarter, which could weigh on the Federal Reserve's policy decisions in June. 

 The US market will be shut on Monday for Memorial day, while markets await FBI Chief James Comey's public testimony ahead of the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding the conditions that led to his firing earlier this month. 

The Senate will also look into allegations of Russian intervention in the last US presidential elections, which led to Donald Trump's surprise win, after reports said Trump asked Comey in February to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Micheal Flyn's connections with Russia. 

Dow Jones closed down 0.01%, or 2.67 points to 21,080.28, while Standard and Poor's 500 rose 0.03%, or 0.75 points to 2,415.82. NASDAQ Composite advanced 0.08%, or 4.94 points to 6,210.19. 

Gold futures due on June 15 rose 0.82% to $1,270.10 an ounce from the opening of $1,259.80, while the dollar index gained 0.19% to 97.44 from the opening of 97.25. 

Otherwise, U.S. crude futures due on June 15 rose 1.82% to $49.79 a barrel from the opening of $48.90, while Brent crude futures due on July 16 jumped 1.34% to $52.15 a barrel from the opening of $51.46.