Stocks Ended Higher, Led by Tech and Energy Shares

U.S. stocks ended higher on Tuesday, with tech and energy stocks leading advances, even as housing data were lackluster. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 140.90 points, or 0.55%, to 25,657.73. The S&P 500 added 20.10 points, or 0.72%, to 2,818.46. The Nasdaq Composite gained 53.98 points, or 0.71%, to 7,691.52.

Oil prices climbed on Tuesday, with U.S. prices posting their first gain in three sessions, as reductions in global production led by OPEC, as well as supply declines brought on by U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, continued to support the market. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery rose $1.12, or 1.9%, to settle at $59.94 a barrel. May Brent crude tacked on 76 cents, or 1.1%, to $67.97 a barrel.

Construction on new homes, known as housing starts, fell almost 9% in February and remained well below year-ago levels. Housing starts slowed to an annual pace of 1.16 million, according to a Commerce Department report delayed by the partial government shutdown earlier this year.