The Dow and the S&P 500 ended at fresh 15-month highs on Thursday as shares of financial companies and big manufacturers advanced following positive broker comments on Bank of America and General Electric .

* Even so, caution ahead of the government's December non-farm payrolls report on Friday limited a broader market advance and led the Nasdaq finish near breakeven. The data is due out at 8:30 a.m. (1330 GMT).

* Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 33.18 points, or 0.31 percent, to close unofficially at 10,606.86. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 4.55 points, or 0.40 percent, for an unofficial close at 1,141.69.

* The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed 1.04 points, or 0.05 percent, to finish unofficially at 2,300.05.

(Reporting by Ellis Mnyandu)

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