US market indexes end solidly higher; Coca-Cola leads a gain in the Dow Jones industrials

Stocks are closing moderately higher as traders welcome positive earnings news from Coca-Cola and other companies.

Energy stocks were the exception Tuesday. That sector edged lower as the price of crude oil dropped more than 5 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 139 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 17,868.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 21 points, or 1.1 percent, to 2,068. The Nasdaq composite rose 61 points, or 1.3 percent, to 4,787.

Coke rose 3 percent after the company reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit. Coke trimmed its costs and fetched higher prices for its drinks in North America.

General Motors rose after an activist investor said he would seek a seat on the company's board and intended to push for a stock buyback.