U.S. Stocks rose slightly for a second consecutive session Tuesday on better-than-forecast earnings at United Technologies Corp. and McDonald's Corp, as oil prices fell by more than one dollar.

Among stocks in focus, United Technologies, the world's largest maker of elevators and air conditioners, rallied 1.98 dollars to 56.45 dollars and was the top contributor to the Dow average's gain.

Another Dow average member, McDonald's, climbed 14 cents to 35. 85 dollars, after hitting a five-year intraday high of 36.31 dollars. The world's largest restaurant chain said earnings in the fourth-quarter rose 53 percent on higher sales in the United States and Germany.

Wal-Mart added 47 cents to 45.72. Shares of the world's largest retailer were upgraded by analysts at Goldman Sachs, which said investments in store improvements and increasing demand from more affluent customers are likely to boost earnings and revenue.

Crude oil prices fell by more than one dollar on profit-taking Tuesday as the tension of Iran and Nigerian kept on.

The fourth-quarter profits, along with lower oil prices, outweighed disappointing results at companies including 3M Co., Texas Instruments Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 23.45, or 0.22 percent, to 10,712.22. Broader stock indicators were also higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 3.04, or 0.24 percent, to 1,266.86, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 16.78, or 0.75 percent, to 2,265.25.

Advancing issues led decliners by more than 2 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where the volume was 1.88 billion shares, up from 1.66 billion at the same time Monday.

Source: Xinhua