US stocks have closed slightly lower as the market paused after a torrid multi-day rally that repeatedly set new records.

At the closing bell on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost a scant 0.83 of a point (0.01 per cent) at 16,479.05, while the S&P 500 gave up 0.57 (0.03 per cent) at 1,841.45.

Both had set new records on Thursday.

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index dipped 10.59 (0.25 per cent) to 4,159.59.