Wall Street ended sharply higher on Wednesday, posting its best day in eight weeks, as investor mood brightened after better-than-expected factory data from the United States and China.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 254.75 points, or 2.54 percent, to end unofficially at 10,269.47. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 30.96 points, or 2.95 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,080.29. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 62.81 points, or 2.97 percent, to close unofficially at 2,176.84.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)

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