U.S. stocks post gains following global rallies

Wall Street climbed in the morning session Tuesday, as investor euphoria was ignited by an across-the-board stock surge around the world.

At midday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 84.78 points, or 0.47 percent, to 17,965.63. The S&P 500 rose 5.82 points, or 0. 28 percent, to 2,086.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 25. 15 points, or 0.51 percent, to 4,942.47.

Overseas stock markets witnessed broad-based increases on Tuesday. European equities rose sharply on Tuesday, with British benchmark FTSE 100 Index jumping over 1.7 percent, as eurozone services PMI rose to 54.2 in March from 53.7 in February.

In Asia, the Nikkei stock index gained 1.25 percent Tuesday, as investor sentiment was lifted by Wall Street's overnight rally which was triggered by fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve might raise its interest rate at an early juncture.

Chinese Shanghai Composite Index surged 2.52 percent on Tuesday after the three-day Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, continuing to refresh new highs amid expanding turnover.

Investors were also awaiting the meeting minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee scheduled for release on Wednesday afternoon. Wall Street will look for hints of delay in raising interest rates.

In corporate news, FedEx has agreed to acquire struggling TNT Express for 4.8 billion dollars in a deal that will give the U.S. company access to the Dutch package-delivery firm's European road network. Shares of FedEx added 2.98 percent around midday on Tuesday.

U.S. stocks closed with sizable gains on Monday, as the unexpectedly weak jobs report gave investors some relief that the Federal Reserve will move more slowly in raising rates. Endite