STOCKS were mostly higher yesterday, but faltered in a move toward record highs amid a flurry of quarter ending portfolio shifts.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 9.25 points to close at 5,882.17, having retreated from a 30 point gain that would have broken the previous Monday's record close at 5,894.74.

Most broad-market measures were positive, but gave back much of the day's gain in the last hour of trading. The New York Stock Exchange composite index, which closed at a record high today, held on to set a new mark.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 5 to 4 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,352 up, 1,079 down and 830 unchanged.

NYSE volume totalled 388.27 million shares, against 411.69 million in the previous session.

The NYSE's composite index rose 1.06 to 367.33, its third straight record finish.