Stocks ended higher on Wednesday, snapping a seven-day losing streak by the S&P 500, but worries about the economy kept trading volatile.

Based on the latest available figures, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 29.59 points, or 0.25 percent, to end at 11,896.21. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 6.31 points, or 0.50 percent, at 1,260.36. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 23.83 points, or 0.89 percent, at 2,693.07.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)