Ford gained 2 percent and United Parcel Service climbed 5 percent Tuesday after turning in results that were better than analysts were expecting.
Asian markets closed with modest losses a day after the Shanghai stock index plunged more than 8 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 189 points, or 1.1 percent, to 17,630.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 25 points, or 1.2 percent, to 2,093. The Nasdaq composite increased 49 points, or 1 percent, to 5,089.
The price of oil rose for the first time in five days.
Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.25 percent.