* U.S. stocks slip after 6-day rally; Europe at new high
* U.S. dollar hits 2-month high vs yen, rises vs euro
* U.S. bond prices up after well-received 5-year auction
* Oil rises slightly on U.S. cold weather, inventories (Updates with close of U.S. markets)
By Herbert Lash
NEW YORK, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The dollar gained against most major currencies on Tuesday on continued signs of a better U.S. economy, while oil prices rose slightly on cold U.S. weather and expectations of a further decline in U.S. inventories.
But U.S. stocks slipped in a low-volume session even after data showed a rise in consumer confidence. A housing report failed to back up that optimism and kept the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq from posting a seventh straight day of gains. For details, see: [ID:nN29194377]
"It's good to see confidence higher than expected, but you'll need improvement in home prices if you want to see the financial and broader market improve over the next six to 12 months," said Chad Morganlander, portfolio manager at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Earlier in Europe, regional shares notched a new closing high for 2009 and Asian stocks rose on growing investor optimism about the global economic recovery.
Traders and analysts warned against drawing too many conclusions from price fluctuations this week, noting that a few large trades can alter a market's direction.
Trading volume on Wall Street was the lowest for the year, according to Birinyi Associates. The day's decline came after six days of gains, with the benchmark Standard & Poor's index up 25 percent for the year.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dipped 1.67 points, or 0.02 percent, to close at 10,545.41. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 1.58 points, or 0.14 percent, to 1,126.20. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slipped 2.68 points, or 0.12 percent, to end at 2,288.40.
U.S. Treasury debt prices rose following a decently attended $42 billion auction of five-year notes and upbeat consumer confidence data. The Treasury Department plans to issue a total of $118 billion in new debt. [ID:nN29150944]
"Given the amount of supply we have to bid on, the market is putting in a good performance," said Mary Ann Hurley, vice president of fixed-income trading at D.A. Davidson & Co in Seattle.
OIL AND BONDS UP, GOLD TUMBLES
U.S. heating oil futures led energy prices higher as cold weather hit the U.S. Northeast, the world's largest heating oil market. Temperatures were expected to average below normal in the region through Friday. [ID:nDTN700]
"Cold weather and expectations for additional draws in crude and distillate stocks supported, while the stronger dollar and weak gasoline demand acted as a drag," said Tom Bentz, analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc in New York.
An updated Reuters poll of analysts forecast weekly data will show U.S. crude inventories fell by 2 million barrels last week as refiners drew down stocks for year-end tax reasons.
Year-end buying from asset managers and a rise in U.S. consumer confidence in December to a three-month high bolstered the dollar. For an economic wrap, click on [ID:nLDE5BS16Q].
"We had a decent consumer confidence report and that helped the dollar. For about a month now, we've had this dynamic where good economic news is starting to support the dollar," said Boris Schlossberg, director of currency research at GFT in New York.
U.S. crude for February delivery
U.S. Treasury debt prices advanced.
The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note
Gold dropped, snapping a three-session winning streak, as a resurgent dollar dampened bullion's appeal as a hedge against paper currency depreciation. [ID:nLDE5BS0DZ]
U.S. gold futures for February delivery
The dollar was up against a basket of major currencies, with the U.S. Dollar Index <.DXY> up 0.26 percent at 77.833.
The euro
The Reuters-Jefferies CRB index <.CRB> at one point hit 285.37, its highest level since mid-October 2008, after tracking a steady rise in crude oil prices. But the index later fell, ending the session down 0.3 percent at 283.73.
NIKKEI AT 4-MO. HIGH ON RECORD DATE
Japan's Nikkei average <.N225> edged higher to finish at 10,638.06, its highest close in four months, lifted partly by gains in oil and metals prices.
Tuesday marked the 20th anniversary of the Nikkei reaching a record high of 38,915.87, which was the peak of Japan's bubble in asset prices.
The MSCI index of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan <.MIAPJ0000PUS> rose just over 0.6 percent in thin trade. (Reporting by Matthew Robinson and Emily Flitter in New York; Chris Baldwin, Dominic Lau, Kirsten Donovan and Jonathan Saul in London; Writing by Herbert Lash; Editing by Jan Paschal) Reuters Messaging: herb.lash.reuters.com@reuters.net; +1 646 223 6019))