Stocks end sharply higher as Ukraine tensions show tentative signs of easing

Stocks finished sharply higher Tuesday, with major indexes snapping a three-day losing streak, as Russia said it was pulling back some troops from the border with Ukraine after concluding military exercises. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +1.22% rose around 422 points, or 1.2%, to finish near 34,988, according to preliminary figures, while the S&P 500 SPX, +1.58% gained around 69 points, or 1.6%, to close near 4,471. The Nasdaq Composite COMP, +2.53% jumped nearly 350 points, or 2.5%, ending near 14,140. Worries over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine had dogged equities in recent sessions. Analysts said it was too soon to sound the all-clear signal on Ukraine. Speaking at the White House, President Joe Biden said that the U.S. had not verified that Russian units had returned home. An invasion remains “distinctly possible,” the president said.