Stocks rise on earnings and retail reports

NEW YORK -- Stocks are mostly higher following better-than-expected earnings reports from Johnson & Johnson and Goldman Sachs and an upbeat reading on retail sales.

Meanwhile, government data shows wholesale prices rose by a larger-than-expected 1.8% in June. Retail sales also rose in June by the largest amount in five months.

Overseas markets rose Tuesday amid optimism about improvements in the banking sector and hopes for an economic recovery.

The better-than-expected report from Goldman helped bolster U.S. markets that are looking to build on Monday's gains.

Investors will try to sustain positive momentum Tuesday after a month of mixed trading. The Dow jumped 2.3% Monday in relatively thin trading volume. It was the best performance for the blue chips since June 1, and all 30 components of the index rose on the same day for the first time since late March.