NEW YORK, Nov 24 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended gains in afternoon trading on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq index rising 2 percent after upbeat economic data encouraged buying of risky assets.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 145.39 points, or 1.32 percent, at 11,181.76. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 16.79 points, or 1.42 percent, at 1,197.52. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 49.61 points, or 1.99 percent, at 2,544.56.
(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing by Kenneth Barry)