A parliamentary vote in Britain put the brakes on the nation's no-deal exit from the European Union, Hong Kong withdrew the contentious extradition bill that sparked recent protests and political turmoil in Italy appeared to be easing with the formation of a new coalition cabinet, all of which brought buyers back to equities markets.
China's services sector expanded in August at its fastest pace in three months as a jump in new orders prompted the biggest hiring increase in over a year, according to the Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers index (PMI).
"It looks like the situation in Europe might improve regarding Brexit, which is really an economic disaster," said Jim Bell, president, chief investment officer at Bell Investment Advisors in Oakland, California. "It's a refreshing development especially after September got off to a pretty grim start."
"The situation it Italy also looks to be positive," Bell added. "There seems to be a synchronized global uptick in confidence."
The U.S. trade deficit shrank in July, according to the Commerce Department, but bilateral gaps in goods trade with key partners widened. The deficit with China grew by 9.4% as the bruising Sino-U.S. trade war raged on and the deficit with the European Union hit a record high.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 237.45 points, or 0.91%, to 26,355.47, the S&P 500 gained 31.51 points, or 1.08%, to 2,937.78 and the Nasdaq Composite added 102.72 points, or 1.3%, to 7,976.88.
The political developments in Europe and Hong Kong helped fuel a rally in European stocks, sending them to one-month highs.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.89% and MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe gained 1.18%.
Emerging market stocks rose 1.86%. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 1.8% higher, while Japan's Nikkei rose 0.12%.
The U.S. Treasury yield curve was at its steepest in two weeks as two-year yields hit their lowest since September 2017 and improving risk sentiment sent longer-dated yields higher.
"If the yield curve gets itself back to its more common upward slope, that's a response to renewed confidence globally that things could get better," Bell said.
Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 2/32 in price to yield 1.4606%, from 1.466% late Tuesday.
The 30-year bond last fell 9/32 in price to yield 1.9619%, from 1.95% late Tuesday.
Fresh doubts about the scale of the European Central Bank's stimulus caused the euro to rebound, while the dollar continued its retreat from a more than two-year high against a basket of major world currencies. The pound sterling recovered on efforts to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
The dollar index fell 0.56%, with the euro up 0.53% to $1.103.
The Japanese yen weakened 0.38% versus the greenback at 106.36 per dollar, while sterling was last trading at $1.222, up 1.13% on the day.
Oil prices rose with the tide, with WTI crude on track for its biggest daily percentage increase since June 10, boosted by easing geopolitical tensions and the positive news about China's services sector.
U.S. crude futures settled up 4.3% at $56.26 per barrel, while Brent crude futures settled at $60.70 per barrel, a 4.2% increase.
Gold inched higher amid remaining economic concerns in the shadow of the U.S.-China trade war, but the precious metal still hovered below its six-year peak.
Spot gold added 0.5% to $1,553.95 an ounce.
Copper rose 2.51% to $5,751.00 a tonne.
Three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.94% to $1,769.50 a tonne.
(Reporting by Stephen Culp; Editing by Chris Reese)
By Stephen Culp
