Global Stocks: U.S. stock indices advanced

U.S. stock indices rose on Tuesday as gains in technology and health-care stocks outweighed declines in oil.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 117.65 points, or 0.7%, to 16,516.22. The S&P 500 climbed 15.01 point, or 0.8%, to 1,938.68 (8 out of its 10 sectors advanced). The Nasdaq Composite gained 47.93 points, or 1%, to 4,685.92.

The U.S. National Federation of Independent Business reported that small business confidence slightly improved in December, but remained quite weak. The small business confidence index rose to 95.2 points from 94.8 in November. The reading is below the long-term average of 98.0 points. Economists had expected a reading of 95.4.

Investors also paid attention to comments by Nigerian oil minister, who said that some OPEC members were calling for an emergency meeting. This week analysts from Barclays, Macquarie and Bank of America Merrill Lynch revised down their 2016 oil price forecasts.

This morning in Asia Hong Kong Hang Seng gained 2.22%, or 438.33, to 20,150.09. China Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.47%, or 14.19, to 3,008.67. The Nikkei rose 2.49%, or 429.40, to 17,648.36.

Asian stocks traded mixed. Japanese stocks rose after a six-day decline. Gains in Wall Street and a weaker yen supported stocks.