Technology companies led stocks higher on Wall Street Tuesday as investors focused on how and when authorities may begin to ease business shutdowns and limits on people's movements imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Big companies also started reporting their first-quarter earnings, giving investors an early peek into how the outbreak was affecting them. Traders will be poring over companies' quarterly report cards over the next few weeks to learn how the pandemic has changed corporate America's prospects for profit growth this year.

The S&P 500 index climbed 3.1%, erasing its losse...