Stocks held onto strong gains on Monday after data showed the manufacturing sector grew for a 17th straight month in December.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 108.75 points, or 0.94 percent, at 11,686.26. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 13.76 points, or 1.09 percent, at 1,271.40. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> jumped 38.28 points, or 1.44 percent, at 2,691.15.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)