The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 49.88 points, or 0.53 percent, to 9,547.22. The broader Standard and Poor's 500 Index was up 7.98 points, or 0.78 percent, to 1,033.37. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index surged 22.62 points, or 0.95 percent, to 2,060.39.

The US currency hit another 2009 low against the euro, dropping to 68.65 euro cents from 69.03 euro cents Tuesday. The dollar also fell to 92.03 Japanese yen from 92.31 yen Tuesday.