U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday with activity dominated by money managers buying recent winners, including energy and small-caps, as the quarter nears its end.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> shot up 71.60 points, or 0.58 percent, to end unofficially at 12,350.61. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 8.82 points, or 0.67 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,328.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 19.90 points, or 0.72 percent, to close unofficially at 2,776.79.

The Russell 2000 index <.RUT> closed at the highest level since October 2007.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Jan Paschal)