(REUTERS) -- Stocks slightly added to their sharp gains on Tuesday, with both the Dow and S&P advancing two percent after data on construction spending and manufacturing came in higher than expected.

Equities rose early in the session as better-than-expected Chinese and German data boosted optimism about the global economy after the S&P 500 index ended flat in 2011.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 249.75 points, or 2.04 percent, at 12,467.31. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 25.14 points, or 2.00 percent, at 1,282.74. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 57.07 points, or 2.19 percent, at 2,662.22.

(Reporting By Ryan Vlastelica; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Dow jones Manufacturing Manufacturing S&P