US stocks open higher following gains in Asia and Europe

U.S. stocks are opening solidly higher as investors take their cue from big gains in Asia and Europe.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 147 points, or 0.9 percent, to 16,646 as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index climbed 17 points, or 0.9 percent, to 1,986. The Nasdaq composite rose 46 points, or 1 percent, to 4,857.

Japan's market jumped the most in almost seven years as investors hoped for more stimulus measures. Markets in China and Europe also rose sharply.

Netflix gained 2.6 percent, breaking a seven-day losing streak, after the company said it would bring its service to four more Asian countries next year.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.25 percent