U.S. stock index futures indicated a higher open with indexes set to continue a rally after a dovish speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on Tuesday.
Dow futures were up 100 points, while S&P and Nasdaq futures were also up sharply.
WTI traded higher, up more than 2 percent above $39 a barrel, ahead of weekly inventory data due later in the morning.
Futures held earlier gains after ADP employment numbers showed 200,000 positions were added in March, matching expectations and just under the 205,000 projected for the government's nonfarm payrolls Friday.
The 2-year Treasury yield edged up to near 0.80 percent, while the 10-year yield held higher around 1.83 percent.
The U.S. dollar index held off lows, down about 0.2 percent, with the euro at $1.13 and the yen at 112.57 yen against the greenback. The dollar index is down more than 1 percent for the week so far.
Speaking to the Economic Club of New York on Tuesday, Yellen noted it is appropriate for policymakers to proceed "cautiously."
She also said recent readings on the strength of the U.S. economy since the beginning of the year have been mixed. The and Dow Jones industrial average closed at their highest levels of the year so far on Tuesday and in positive territory for 2016. Both indexes are now within 4 percent of their 52-week intraday highs.
Sentiment remained positive on Wednesday morning with European markets trading higher and most Asian markets advancing overnight.
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In other Fed commentary, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said on CNBC's he would be surprised if conditions were met for rate hike in April. He also said the "hurdle is high" for the threshold for having confidence that inflation will move sustainably towards the Fed's 2 percent target.
Evans is also scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. at the Forecasters Club of New York. He is viewed as one of the more dovish members of the central bank.
—CNBC's Patti Domm and Evelyn Cheng contributed to this article.