US stocks closed modestly higher on Tuesday, enough to make it one of the biggest gains in a summer of narrow trading, with the rise driven by moderately upbeat comments from US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and strong earnings from companies like Corning Inc.
Technology stocks led the advance, pushing the Nasdaq Composite Index up 33.24 points, or 1.76 percent, to 1,917.07, according to the latest data. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 55.01 points, or 0.54 percent, to close unofficially at 10,149.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 added 7.77 points, or 0.71 percent, to 1,108.67.