NEW YORK, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday as news of an alternative stimulus plan from Senate Republicans suggested lawmakers were moving closer to a package that would soften the blow of a deepening recession.
* A surprise rise in December pending home sales eased economic concerns and a solid profit report from Merck offered a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy earnings season.
* The Dow Jones industrial average was up 140.57 points, or 1.77 percent, to 8,077.40. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 12.76 points, or 1.55 percent, to 838.20. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 21.87 points, or 1.46 percent, to 1,516.30. (Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Leslie Adler)