Wall Street ends sharply higher on Fed hopes

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks shot 3 percent higher on Tuesday on speculation Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would signal new help for the economy, giving investors hope the worst was over after a four-week rout.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 319.99 points, or 2.95 percent, at 11,174.64. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 38.41 points, or 3.42 percent, at 1,162.23. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 100.68 points, or 4.29 percent, at 2,446.06.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; Editing by Kenneth Barry)