U.S. stocks jumped on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq composite index up over 2 percent, as a raft of solid earnings and profit outlooks bolstered optimism about the economic recovery.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 188.76 points, or 1.54 percent, to 12,455.51. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 18.78 points, or 1.43 percent, to 1,331.40. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 56.09 points, or 2.04 percent, to 2,801.06.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)