Investing.com - U.S. stock prices rose on Tuesday on growing hopes fourth-quarter earnings will come in better than once feared.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.46%, the S&P 500 index was up 0.44%, while the Nasdaq Composite index gained 0.27%.
Earnings season is underway in the U.S., and companies like Travelers Companies and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold have surprised on the upside, which sent broader equities indices gaining on Tuesday.
Stocks also rose after the Bank of Japan announced plans to conduct open-ended asset purchases to stimulate the economy, although the bank's decision not to roll out stimulus measures until 2014 watered down gains.
Solid sentiment data out of Europe boosted spirits in U.S. stock markets as well.
Earlier Tuesday, the ZEW Centre for Economic Research reported that its index of German economic sentiment improved to 31.5 in January from 6.9 the previous month, far surpassing expectations for a rise to 12.0.
A separate report showed that the ZEW index of eurozone economic sentiment jumped to 31.2 this month from 7.6 in December, compared with expectations for a reading of 14.0.
Disappointing industry data on home sales, however, dampened gains.
In a report, the National Association of Realtors said that December existing home sales fell to 4.94 million units from 4.99 million in November, whose figure was revised down from 5.04 million.
Analysts had expected existing home sales to rise to 5.10 million last month.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included UnitedHealth Group, up 2.66%, Alcoa, up 2.33%, and Travelers Companies, up 2.04%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Coca-Cola, down 1.54%, Boeing, down 1.19%, and Cisco Systems, down 0.76%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished lower.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.36%, France's CAC 40 fell 0.59%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished down 0.68%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished down 0.07%.
On Wednesday, the U.S. is to release government data on crude oil stockpiles.
At the close of U.S. trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.46%, the S&P 500 index was up 0.44%, while the Nasdaq Composite index gained 0.27%.
Earnings season is underway in the U.S., and companies like Travelers Companies and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold have surprised on the upside, which sent broader equities indices gaining on Tuesday.
Stocks also rose after the Bank of Japan announced plans to conduct open-ended asset purchases to stimulate the economy, although the bank's decision not to roll out stimulus measures until 2014 watered down gains.
Solid sentiment data out of Europe boosted spirits in U.S. stock markets as well.
Earlier Tuesday, the ZEW Centre for Economic Research reported that its index of German economic sentiment improved to 31.5 in January from 6.9 the previous month, far surpassing expectations for a rise to 12.0.
A separate report showed that the ZEW index of eurozone economic sentiment jumped to 31.2 this month from 7.6 in December, compared with expectations for a reading of 14.0.
Disappointing industry data on home sales, however, dampened gains.
In a report, the National Association of Realtors said that December existing home sales fell to 4.94 million units from 4.99 million in November, whose figure was revised down from 5.04 million.
Analysts had expected existing home sales to rise to 5.10 million last month.
Leading Dow Jones Industrial Average performers included UnitedHealth Group, up 2.66%, Alcoa, up 2.33%, and Travelers Companies, up 2.04%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average's worst performers included Coca-Cola, down 1.54%, Boeing, down 1.19%, and Cisco Systems, down 0.76%.
European indices, meanwhile, finished lower.
After the close of European trade, the EURO STOXX 50 fell 0.36%, France's CAC 40 fell 0.59%, while Germany's DAX 30 finished down 0.68%. Meanwhile, in the U.K. the FTSE 100 finished down 0.07%.
On Wednesday, the U.S. is to release government data on crude oil stockpiles.