U.S. stocks extended their recent rally on Wednesday, with the Dow industrials rising back into positive territory for the year, as the euro-zone rescue fund was set to get approval from all EU members.

Momentum buying, or a move back into equities after the S&P 500 closed on Tuesday with its largest six-day rally since March 2009, was also cited as lifting U.S. stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 174.79 points, or 1.53 percent, to 11,591.09. The S&P 500 <.SPX> gained 22.14 points, or 1.85 percent, to 1,217.68. The Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> rose 43.19 points, or 1.67 percent, to 2,626.22.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Paschal)

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