Il Nuovo Postiglione - US stocks extend rally as bank earnings top estimates

Shares of Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Charles Schwab all surged after their results topped estimates.

Following a positive day on European bourses, Wall Street stocks had a muted start to the session on mixed US economic data.

But for the second day in a row, US indices gained momentum as the session progressed. The S&P 500 finished 0.7 percent higher.

"The theme for today with the banks is 'better than feared,'" said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "Unless the news is actively disappointing, everything is being taken as good news."

Sosnick described the market as in "a full-fledged rally mode."

Data out Tuesday showed that US retail sales edged 0.2 percent higher last month, below analyst expectations.

Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at trading platform OANDA, said an upward revision of May figures helped balance out the June underperformance.

"I'm not convinced today's data really changes things as far as the consumer or economy is concerned, all things considered, nor has it really changed anything on interest rate expectations, with markets almost fully pricing in a hike next week and probably no more after that," he said.

Meanwhile, US industrial output fell by a more-than-expected 0.5 percent last month.

In Asia, trading was still dominated by Monday's disappointing Chinese GDP growth figures.

"Traders are concerned about economic numbers from China and... remain on the edge," noted Zaye Capital Markets analyst Naeem Aslam.

And while there is expectation that more stimulus measures are in the pipeline, other analysts warned that leaders were limited in how far they could go.

The figures came after last week's reports showing inflation had flatlined, suggesting China was on the brink of a period of painful deflation, while exports plunged for a second straight month.

Hong Kong led Asian losses on Tuesday, shedding more than two percent following a five-day rally, as it reopened a day after being shut because of a severe storm.

Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Wellington and Taipei also dropped, though Tokyo, Mumbai and Bangkok edged higher.

- Key figures around 2030 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 34,951.93 (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 4,554.98 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.8 percent at 14,353.64 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 7,453.69 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 7,319.18 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 16,125.49 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.3 percent at 4,369.73 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 32,493.89 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.1 percent at 19,015.72 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,197.82 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1235 from $1.1236 on Monday

Dollar/yen: UP at 138.87 yen from 138.71 yen

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3040 from $1.3073

Euro/pound: UP at 86.13 pence from 85.94 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.2 percent at $75.75 per barrel

Brent North Sea crude: UP 1.4 percent $79.63 per barrel

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A.Riccobono--INP