The Dow and S&P 500 ended higher in volatile trading on Thursday thanks only to technical factors and options expirations, but raging uncertainty about Greece prevented investors from committing money to the market.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 64.33 points, or 0.54 percent, to end unofficially at 11,961.60. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 2.24 points, or 0.18 percent, at 1,267.66. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 7.76 points, or 0.29 percent, at 2,623.70.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch)