U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbing 1 percent, as fresh data indicated the economy was recovering and more M&A activity lifted sentiment.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 70.74 points, or 0.73 percent, at 9,754.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 11.50 points, or 1.09 percent, at 1,064.13. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 19.01 points, or 0.90 percent, at 2,121.65.

(Reporting by Edward Krudy, editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)