Wall St. extends gains on election day

Stocks climbed further on Tuesday as the presidential election got under way, while investors picked up shares trading around five-year lows amid further signs of easing in credit markets.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 299.40 points, or 3.21 percent, to 9,619.23. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index  rose 37.58 points, or 3.89 percent, to 1,003.88. The Nasdaq Composite Index  was up 51.38 points, or 2.96 percent, at 1,777.42.