Stocks climbed Monday on investor relief that damage from Hurricane Irene wasn’t as severe as expected.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 254 points, or 2.2 percent, at 11,538.

The S&P 500 Index, pushing above 1,200 for the first time in nearly two weeks, closed up 33 points, or 2.8 percent, at 1,210.

The Nasdaq Composite rose 82 points, or 3.3 percent, at 2,562.