The S&P 500 rose more than 2 percent on Wednesday as stocks extended gains on hopes the European debt crisis might ease.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 179.67 points, or 1.61 percent, at 11,318.97. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 22.89 points, or 1.96 percent, at 1,188.13, after rising more than 2 percent. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 46.74 points, or 1.89 percent, at 2,520.57.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch)