Stocks rose on Tuesday, with sentiment underpinned by data showing a surprise jump in U.S. housing starts and by hopes that the banking sector may be seeing some stabilization.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 10.83 points, or 0.15 percent, to 7,227.80. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 1.37 points, or 0.18 percent, to 755.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 6.69 points, or 0.48 percent, to 1,410.71.

(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)