Oil, energy shares rally, boosting stock markets

By Rodrigo Campos NEW YORK (Reuters) - Brent crude oil prices hit a four-month high and energy equities rose on Tuesday after reports of an agreement between two major producers to freeze output, leading U.S. equities higher. Brent crude rose 3.3 percent to $44.22 a barrel and U.S. crude settled up 4.5 percent at $42.17. On Wall Street, energy sector shares led the market, and the S&P 500 hit an intraday high shortly after the headlines on the output freeze.