NEW YORK (REUTERS) - US stocks rose sharply at the start of trading on Tuesday as the Dow industrials climbed above a record closing high of 14,164.53l, buoyed by China's record spending plans.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 60.29 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 14,188.11. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 8.74 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 1,533.94. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 20.87 points, or 0.66 per cent, to 3,202.90.