Stocks rise as top-performing month approaches

Stock markets were mostly up on Wednesday.

The S&P 500 rose 0.4 percent, the STOXX Europe 600 jumped 1.3 percent and the Shanghai Composite Index surged 2.8 percent. However, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.3 percent.

The continuing rally sets the market up for a possibly good April. According to Sam Stovall, chief US equity strategist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, April is usually a positive month for stocks, and is the top performing month over the past ten years.

However, Stovall is concerned about possible "earnings erosion", and added that "investors are encouraged to stay the course but not load up the truck".