Stocks extended gains on Wednesday after data showed the services sector expanded at a slightly faster rate than expected in July.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 54.65 points, or 0.51 percent, to 10,691.03. The Standard & Poor's 500 <.SPX> rose 5.81 points, or 0.52 percent, to 1,126.27. The Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> gained 14.97 points, or 0.66 percent, to 2,298.49.

Stocks had opened higher, lifted by better-than-expected private sector jobs data and a handful of positive earnings reports, including Priceline.com Inc

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(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)