US stocks advanced on Tuesday, boosted by strength in retail and tech stocks, but volume remained light as investors awaited a clearer picture of corporate earnings and the labour market. The S&P 500 index has risen 4.7 percent in the first quarter. The benchmark index was on track for its seventh positive quarter in the last eight.
The S&P Information Technology index had lost as much as 4 percent in the aftermath of the disaster in Japan, while the S&P Retail index dropped as much as 2.1 percent. The S&P Information Technology Index was up 0.3 percent on Tuesday and the S&P Retail Index was up 1.1 percent.
Volume remained tepid ahead of some key data on the labour front, including the ADP private-sector employment report on Wednesday and the US government's key non-farm payrolls report on Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 74.97 points, or 0.61 percent, to 12,272.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 6.74 points, or 0.51 percent, to 1,316.93. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 20.04 points, or 0.74 percent, to 2,750.72. Home Depot Inc, up 2.7 percent at $37.64, was among the Dow's best performers after the home improvement retailer said it would buy back $1 billion of outstanding shares through an accelerated program.