The S&P 500 rose 3 percent on Wednesday and was set to record its best day in eight weeks as U.S. and Asian economic data soothed worries about a global economic slowdown.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 247.49 points, or 2.47 percent, at 10,262.21. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 30.26 points, or 2.88 percent, at 1,079.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 61.82 points, or 2.92 percent, at 2,175.85.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Jan Paschal)