U.S. stocks reversed course and were higher at midday on Tuesday, with technology shares leading the way.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 40.72 points, or 0.34 percent, at 12,119.70. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> put on 5.21 points, or 0.42 percent, at 1,256.99. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 20.42 points, or 0.77 percent, at 2,677.64.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)