Stocks rose at the open on Monday as a batch of proposed acquisitions outweighed another spike in oil prices as unrest in the Middle East and North Africa continues.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 33.07 points, or 0.27 percent, to 12,202.95. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 4.60 points, or 0.35 percent, to 1,325.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 9.33 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,794.00.