NEW YORK — Stocks finished an erratic session mixed yesterday as higher commodity prices lifted energy and materials shares.

Major stock indexes had their third straight advance, reaching new 13-month highs, but there were more declining shares than advancers on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. Stocks zigzagged for much of the day on mixed news about retailers and industrial production.

A rebound in the dollar after three down days kept investors' appetite for stocks in check. And trading volume remained light, signaling a lack of strong conviction behind the market's moves.