Stocks Ended Higher as Trade Tensions Eased

U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Tuesday as China President Xi Jinping’s comments helped to ease fears that a trade war would break out between the world’s two largest economies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 428.90 points, or 1.79%, to 24,408.00. The S&P 500 gained 43.71 points, or 1.67%, to 2,656.87. The Nasdaq Composite added 143.96 points, or 2.07%, to 7,094.30.

Oil futures settled higher on Tuesday as tensions linked to Syria raised the potential for disruptions to Middle East crude output. May West Texas Intermediate crude tacked on $2.09, or 3.3%, to settle at $65.51 a barrel. June Brent crude climbed $2.39, or 3.5% to settle at $71.04 a barrel.