U.S. stocks end higher after Italy's Berlusconi pledges to step down; Dow up 102 points

NEW YORK (MarketWatch)
U.S. stocks clinched a second straight day of gains Tuesday as reports that Silvio Berlusconi would resign as Italy's prime minister fueled hopes the European nation will be able to better tackle its debt problems.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average  ended 101.79 points, or 0.8%, up at 12,170.18, with 28 of its 30 constituents rising.
Leading gainers, 3M Co. rose 2.7%, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc. added 2.4%.
The S&P 500 Index  advanced 14.80 points, or 1.2%, to 1,275.92, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 32.24 points, or 1.2%, to 2,727.49.