The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) climbed 0.6%, or over 200 points, while the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC) added 0.3% on the heels of an all-time closing high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC) gained around 0.5%.

U.S. stocks remained higher in Wednesday's final hour of trading as investors looked past weaker-than-expected data from the Institute for Supply Management and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's remarks about taking a more cautious approach to lowering rates.

Key equity averages rose Wednesday, bolstered by a jump in shares in Salesforce (CRM) and other tech companies following their earnings updates.  Investors later Wednesday will key into what Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell may say about rate-cut prospects at an event in New York.

The Dow Jones rose 280 points Wednesday on a surprise ADP jobs report. A speech from Fed chief Powell is next. Salesforce soared on earnings.

Dow Jones futures rose 180 points Wednesday ahead of the ADP jobs report and a speech from Fed chief Powell. Salesforce soared on earnings.

Wall Street's major averages rose on Wednesday, after strong earnings reports from Salesforce (CRM) and Marvell (MRVL) cheered investors. Early on and the S&P 500 (SP500) was +0.3%, the Nasdaq Composite (COMP:IND) was +0.