Dow closes above 13,000, just NEW YORK, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The Dow Jones industrial average Tuesday closed above 13,000 for the first time since May 2008, given a boost by stronger consumer confidence. The consumer confidence index, which hit a two-year low in August, reached its highest point in a year in February, the Conference Board said. The Commerce Department rattled confidence early in the day with a report durable goods orders dropped far more than expected in January, falling 4 percent, although economists had expected a 1 percent drop. The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller monthly price report on U.S. houses was also dour. Prices fell in both its 10-city and 20-city indexes in December. The Dow Jones industrial average made tentative gains, closing up 23.61 points or 0.18 percent to 13,005.12. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 4.59 points or 0.34 percent to 1,372.18. The Nasdaq composite index rose 20.60 or 0.69 percent to 2,986.76. On the New York Stock Exchange, 1,570 stocks advanced and 1,457 declined on a volume of 3.3 billion shares traded. The benchmark 10-year treasury note lost 1/32 to yield 1.945 percent.