The Nasdaq advanced more than 1 percent while the Dow and S&P 500 added to gains on Wednesday as optimism about potential help from the International Monetary Fund for Europe.

Technology shares led the rise on the S&P 500, with the S&P technology index <.GPST> up 1.5 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 79.58 points, or 0.64 percent, at 12,561.65. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 10.66 points, or 0.82 percent, at 1,304.33. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 32.55 points, or 1.19 percent, at 2,760.63.

(Reporting By Caroline Valetkevitch; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)