US STOCKS-Wall Street ends higher on strong GDP, weaker oil

(Updates to 4 p.m.)

NEW YORK, Aug 28 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended sharply higher on Thursday, as a decline in oil prices and data showing the economy expanded much more than expected in the second quarter boosted shares of major industrial and financial companies.

All three major stock indexes ended more than 1 percent higher after the government said strong export growth helped the economy grow at a 3.3 percent annual rate between April and June, above an initial estimate of 1.9 percent.

Based on the latest available data, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI ended with gains of 209.99 points, or 1.83 percent, at 11,712.50, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX rose 18.59 points, or 1.45 percent, to 1,300.25. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC climbed 29.18 points, or 1.22 percent, at 2,411.64. (Reporting by Walter Brandimarte; Editing by Leslie Adler)