New York - US stocks rose on Tuesday, recovering some ground from last week's selloff, as data showing the vast US services sector improved in May outweighed investor angst about the eurozone's fiscal crisis.
Financial stocks ranked among the best performers. The S&P 500 financial sector index gained 1.7%, significantly outperforming other sectors.
Bank of America shares shot up 2.9% to $7.10 and JPMorgan added 3.2% to $31.98. The financial sector index, however, has lost 13% since the start of May.
But the rebound was expected to be temporary as market sentiment remained bearish in the face of the eurozone's debt crisis and a slew of recent data that showed the world's largest economy was experiencing slower-than-expected growth.
The market could also be setting itself up for disappointment, with the European Central Bank meeting on Wednesday and Federal Reserve Chairperson Ben Bernanke testifying on the economy before a congressional committee on Thursday.
"I wouldn't be shocked if we actually extended further gains from here, but those could easily be wiped out. The question is, do you really want to be picking up nickels and dimes in front of bulldozer?" said James Dailey, portfolio manager of TEAM Financial Asset Management.
"The market hasn't seen a real sellers' panic, which lies ahead."
The ECB meeting could have an impact on the euro crisis if the bank signaled a willingness to take action that would alleviate the financial stresses on Europe.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 26.49 points, at 12,127.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 7.32 points, at 1,285.50. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 18.10 points, at 2,778.11.
The pace of growth in the US services sector picked up in May as a gauge of new orders improved, according to an industry report. The Institute for Supply Management's services index edged up to 53.7 in May from 53.5 in April, a touch above economists' forecast for it to hold steady.
The ISM data let investors breathe a brief sigh of relief after a number of negative economic reports. Those reports and concerns about the eurozone drove the S&P 500 down more than 6% in May.
On Friday the three major US stock indexes slid more than 2% and the Dow industrials turned negative for the year after much weaker-than-expected non-farm payrolls in May.
Spain's Treasury Minister Cristobal Montoro said the nation's high borrowing costs have effectively shut the eurozone's fourth-largest economy out of the bond market and the European Union should help Madrid recapitalise its debt-laden banks.
Statements after emergency talks by the finance chiefs of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on the eurozone's deepening crisis gave investors little clarity.
Japan's finance minister said he told G7 members that Japan is confident in Europe's response to its problems, but indicated Tokyo was prepared to intervene in order to curb its currency.
Most major economies in the eurozone are now in various states of decline, according to business surveys that suggested even Germany is no longer immune to the crisis.
Facebook Inc shares fell 3.8% to $25.87, down 31% from the social networking giant's market debut on May 18.
About 6.05 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and Amex, slightly lower than the year-to-date daily average of 6.85 billion shares.