Stocks posted their best day since March on Tuesday after strong corporate results and renewed hope for an agreement on thorny budget issues boosted investor confidence.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 202.11 points, or 1.63 percent, at 12,587.27. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 21.27 points, or 1.63 percent, at 1,326.71. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 61.41 points, or 2.22 percent, at 2,826.52.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)