* IBM rallies on strong new services business
* Stocks lifted by Obama's debt talks comments
* Apple at new yearly high ahead of results
* Goldman, BofA hit 52-week lows after earnings
* Indexes up: Dow 1.7 pct, S&P 1.6 pct, Nasdaq 2.1 pct
* For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Updates to late afternoon, changes byline)
By Ashley Lau
NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street rebounded on Tuesday, bolstered by strong corporate results and renewed hope for an agreement in Washington that would avert a default on U.S. debt.
Strong quarterly numbers from technology bellwether
International Business Machines Corp
Markets surged after President Obama suggested progress was being made toward a deficit reduction deal. The White House and Congress need to sign a deal that includes an increase in the federal debt ceiling by Aug. 2 or the United States could default on its debt.
"Stocks are starting to bounce at least for the time being, with people wagering that there will be a resolution on the debt ceiling," said Wayne Kaufman, chief market analyst at John Thomas Financial in New York.
The S&P information technology sector <.GSPT> gained 2.5
percent, making it the top gainer among S&P sectors. Shares of
Apple
All 10 S&P 500 sectors rose on Tuesday, even shares of
financials, which were hit by declines in Goldman Sachs Group
Inc
Wells Fargo
"We've kicked off with strong earnings from IBM, which showed broad strength across different segments and geographies," said Ed Crotty, chief investment officer at Davidson Investment Advisors in Great Falls, Montana. "As we get into earnings season, that tends to take center stage."
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 210.10 points, or 1.70 percent, at 12,595.26. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 21.38 points, or 1.64 percent, at 1,326.82. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 57.84 points, or 2.09 percent, at 2,822.95.
Housing starts hit a six-month high in June, and permits
for future construction rose. Homebuilder D.R. Horton Inc
Goldman's second-quarter net income fell short of lowered expectations as fixed income trading revenue dropped sharply. Bank of America recorded a second-quarter net loss of $8.8 billion. [ID:nLDE76I122] [ID:nN1E76H0D0]
Coca-Cola Co
Coke rose 3.7 percent to $69.63, while J&J was 1.3 percent lower at $66.25. Johnson & Johnson's higher-than-earnings were mainly attributed to lower taxes and the weak dollar. (Reporting by Ashley Lau; Editing by Kenneth Barry)