The Dow industrials closed at the highest level in nearly five years on Tuesday in a lightly traded session ahead of key decisions in Germany and the United States that could give markets a further boost.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 69.31 points, or 0.52 percent, at 13,323.60. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 4.50 points, or 0.31 percent, at 1,433.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 0.50 point, or 0.02 percent, at 3,104.53.

(Reporting By Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)