New Delhi, April 14 -- Major US stock indices edged higher on Tuesday as crude oil declined after reports of fresh efforts to ease the Middle East turmoil. Investor sentiments were also boosted by strong bank earnings.

As of 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the S&P 500 added 0.7%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite was 1.2% higher.

At the open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 53.8 points, or 0.11%, to 48,272.03. The S&P 500 rose 24.0 points, or 0.35%, to 6,910.2​, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 147.8 points, or 0.64%, to 23,331.501.

Pakistan is facilitating a second round of diplomatic peace negotiations between Iran and the United States, according to senior Pakistani sources cited by AFP.

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