YAHOO [BRIEFING.COM]: With little leadership, stocks remained near the flat line for most of the session after reaching their highest levels in mid-morning trading. The S&P 500 traded in a seven point range throughout the session with most of the trading occuring between 1115 and 1118.

Energy shares led throughout the session, but received little help from BP (BP 31.77, +0.06) following yesterday's Congressional hearing on Capitol Hill.

Earlier this morning gold hit an all-time high near $1264 per ounce before pulling back and settling at $1258.30 in pit trading. Materials stocks gave back early gains, but were still able to close in positive territory. As expected, SPDR Gold Fund (GLD 122.82, +0.92) benefited from the move higher in the yellow metal.

Shares of Walgreen (WAG 30.05, +0.78) and CVS (CVS 32.45, +0.61) were among the biggest gainers after the two companies announced a new PBM pharmacy agreement.

The CRB Commodity index closed fractionally lower this session. Strength in precious metals and grains was offset by selling in energy and industrial commodities.

August gold futures reached a new all-time high for the most active contract at $1263.70 per ounce. It also set a new all-time closing high at $1258.02 per ounce. August gold closed 0.7% higher this session.

July silver rose 2.1% to close at $19.17 per ounce. Silver futures are up 11.5% since June 7 and about 30% since early February.

Copper, nickel and aluminum all traded lower in excess of 1%.

Energy commodities were also weak, led by a 3.1% decline in natural gas futures. The July contract closed at $5.01 per MMBtu, erasing most of the prior session's gains. Crude oil was the sole energy commodity to close higher. It finished at $77.18 per barrel, up 0.5%.

Next week look for housing data on Tuesday and Wednesday, durable goods and jobless claims on Thursday, and the third estimate for first quarter GDP on Friday. All of those data releases have the potential to move the markets. DJ30 +16.70 NASDAQ +2.64 SP500 +1.48 NASDAQ Adv/Vol/Dec 1435/1.95 bln/1215 NYSE Adv/Vol/Dec 1680/1.75 bln/1336