U.S. stocks opened higher on Monday after comments by a Fed official reassured investors the government is committed to helping the economy recover from a deep recession.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 106.03 points, or 1.03 percent, to 10,424.19. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 12.95 points, or 1.19 percent, to 1,104.33. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 25.90 points, or 1.21 percent, to 2,171.94.

* On Sunday, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said the central bank should extend its mortgage-related assets purchase program to give policy-makers more flexibility as they help the recovery.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)