Stocks Ended Sharply Higher as Earnings Season Kicked Off

U.S. stocks on Tuesday closed sharply higher on the back of strong gains in prominent technology shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 558.99 points, or 2.39%, to 23,949.76. The S&P 500 gained 84.43 points, or 3.06%, to 2,846.06. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 323.32 points, or 3.95%, to 8,515.74.

Oil futures ended Tuesday at a roughly two-week low, weighed down by a global glut of crude as demand slumped due to the disruptions to travel and trade resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery fell $2.30, or 10.3%, to settle at $20.11 a barrel. June Brent crude lost $2.14, or 6.7%, at $29.60 a barrel.