U.S. stocks ended with gains of more than 1%

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch)
U.S. stocks Wednesday ended with gains of more than 1%, picking up momentum in the final two hours of the session, as a round of better U.S. economic data and reports that suggested European officials could recapitalize the banking system lifted sentiment.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 131.24 points, or 1.2%, to 10,939.95, led by a 5.5% pop in Disney Co. shares.
Chevron Corp. contributed 24 points to the Dow's rise, as the oil major followed oil futures' 5% surge after a drop on inventories.
The S&P 500 gained 20.08 points, or 1.8%, to 1,144.03, led by chemicals, metals and energy stocks.
The Nasdaq Composite rose 55.69 points, or 2.3%, to 2,460.51.