US stocks have bounced sharply higher in opening trade, rebounding from the prior day’s sell-off amid market volatility over concerns about central banks’ stimulus plans.

Five minutes into trading on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 103.30 (0.68 per cent) to 15,225.32, looking to snap its two-day losing streak.

The broad-based S&P 500 rose 10.83 (0.67 per cent) to 1636.96, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index added 18.86 (0.55 per cent) at 3455.80.

“There isn’t any continuity to the market’s trading behaviour,” said Patrick O’Hare of Briefing.com.

“The inconsistency can be blamed on the Federal Reserve and other central banks, which have scrambled their policy communications just enough to keep everyone guessing as to what comes next.”

In choppy trade on Tuesday, the Dow 0.76 fell per cent, the S&P 500 slumped 1.02 per cent and the Nasdaq sank 1.06 per cent.