After swinging between gains and losses till a little past noon, U.S. stocks climbed higher and settled on a firm note on Tuesday.
Optimism surrounding China's reopening helped offset concerns about interest rates.
Although China's decision to reopen its businesses has raised some optimism about the growth prospects for the country's economy, reports showing a surge in Covid cases in Henan, the country's third-most populous province, fueled concerns about the dreaded infection, and rendered the mood cautious early on in the session.
San Francisco Fed president Mary Daly said she expects interest rates to rise beyond 5 percent this year. Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic also said interest rates need to be raised above 5 percent.
Meanwhile, Fed Chair Powell emphasized the need for the central bank to be free of political influence while it tackles high inflation. Powell noted in a speech delivered to Sweden's Riksbank that stabilizing prices requires making tough decisions that can be unpopular politically.
The major averages all ended with strong gains. The Dow ended higher by 186.45 points or 0.56 percent at 33,704.10. The S&P 500 settled at 3,919.25, up 27.16 points or 0.7 percent from the previous close. The Nasdaq climbed 106.98 points or 1.01 percent to settle at 10,742.63.
Caterpillar climbed 1.6 percent. Verizon, Visa, Goldman Sachs, Amgen, Travelers Companies, 3M, and American Express gained 1 to 1.5 percent.
Warner Bros. shares climbed more than 8 percent following a rating upgrade by Bank of America.
Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. skyrocketed more than 27 percent despite the company reporting a wider than expected fiscal third-quarter loss.
In overseas trading, Asian stocks ended on a mixed note Tuesday, with hawkish remarks from two Federal Reserve officials and fears of a coming recession weighing on markets. Investors also looked ahead to U.S. inflation data due this week.
European stocks closed lower on Tuesday as concerns about interest rate hikes resurfaced after some Fed officials said the U.S. central bank needs to raise interest rate beyond 5 percent and hold it at higher levels for a longer duration in order to rein in inflation.
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December 26, 2025 08:42 ET Third quarter economic growth data from some major economies including the U.S. were the main news in this holiday shortened week. GDP growth and industrial production data from the U.S. helped to boost morale, while the consumer confidence survey results were less upbeat. In Europe, the quarterly economic growth data from the U.K. drew attention, while the minutes of the Australian central bank’s latest policy session was in focus in Asia.