Stocks hit session highs on Monday led by gains in financials.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 53.66 points, or 0.45 percent, at 11,988.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 4.38 points, or 0.35 percent, at 1,272.83. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 9.21 points, or 0.35 percent, at 2,662.10.

The S&P financial sector <.GSPF> was up 0.8 percent.

(Reporting by Angela Moon)