LSI rose after a Deutsche Bank Securities analyst lifted his rating on the chip maker and said the company is well-positioned for growth following a restructuring. The stock gained 28 cents, or 4.2 percent, to $7.

The S&P 500 Index rose 10.28 points to 1,461.98.

McDonald's Corp. gained $2.27, or 4.5 percent, to $52.42, after global same-store sales came in better than expected. Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, is a key indicator of retailer performance because it measures growth at existing stores rather than newly opened ones.

General Motors Corp. gained $1.07, or 3.7 percent, to $30.28 on a combination of positive news, including plans to release a line of electric vehicles and media reports that the auto maker is close to a labor deal with the United Auto Workers union.

On the losing side, King Pharmaceuticals Inc. lost $1.48, or 10.4 percent, to $12.78. On Monday, biopharmaceutical company Palatin Technologies Inc. reacquired full rights from the drug maker for its sexual dysfunction treatment candidate.

Countrywide Financial Corp. lost 91 cents, or 5.3 percent, to $16.30, a day after two big investors cut their stakes in the company.

Masco Corp. lost 72 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $24.09. Merrill Lynch reportedly downgraded the stock to "Sell" from "Neutral."