U.S. stocks rose at the open on Monday, following a steep three-session fall, as doubts over U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's second-term confirmation waned, relieving the market of an element of uncertainty that contributed to recent declines.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 59.40 points, or 0.58 percent, to 10,232.38. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 7.62 points, or 0.70 percent, to 1,099.38. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 11.30 points, or 0.51 percent, to 2,216.59.

Ben Bernanke