Wall Street opened higher on Wednesday after private sector payroll data showed job losses slowed in April and hit their lowest level since November, a fresh sign the U.S. economy's worst days may be past.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 83.71 points, or 1.00 percent, to 8,494.36. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 8.35 points, or 0.92 percent, to 912.15. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 14.75 points, or 0.84 percent, to 1,768.87.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak ;Editing by Padraic Cassidy)