NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks opened slightly higher on Monday after initial polls showed pro-reform center-leftists could win the Italian general election, though caution remained as defensive sectors led gains on the S&P 500.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 41.47 points or 0.3 percent, to 14,042.04, the S&P 500 <.SPX> gained 6.81 points or 0.45 percent, to 1,522.41 and the Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> added 18.79 points or 0.59 percent, to 3,180.61.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)