NEW YORK, Oct 29 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday as GDP data showing the U.S. economy returned to growth in the third quarter buoyed hopes of a sustained rebound in corporate profits.
* In its first look at gross domestic product for the third quarter, the Commerce Department said the U.S. economy expanded at an annual rate of 3.5 percent -- marking quarterly growth for the first time in more than a year and signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years.
The Dow Jones industrial averagegained 199.89 points, or 2.05 percent, to close unofficially at 9,962.58. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 23.47 points, or 2.25 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,066.10. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 37.94 points, or 1.84 percent, to end unofficially at 2,097.55. (Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Paschal)