Stocks rose further on Wednesday and the Nasdaq climbed 1 percent after the Federal Reserve said it would keep interest rates exceptionally low at least through 2014 in a move likely to drive money into riskier assets.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 51.31 points, or 0.40 percent, to 12,727.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 8.11 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,322.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 29.52 points, or 1.06 percent, to 2,816.16.

(Reporting By Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)