Stocks opened higher on Monday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested the central bank would continue supportive monetary policies even as the unemployment rate improves.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 61.15 points, or 0.47 percent, at 13,141.88. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 6.55 points, or 0.47 percent, at 1,403.66. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 22.48 points, or 0.73 percent, at 3,090.40.

(Reporting By Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

Ben Bernanke