* Less NYC damage than feared from Hurricane Irene
* Banks rally on report of Greece banks merger
* U.S. consumer spending rebounds, calms recession fears
* Indexes up: Dow 1.6 pct, S&P 1.8 pct, Nasdaq 1.9 pct
* For up-to-the-minute market news see [STXNEWS/US] (Updates to early morning, adds quote)
By Angela Moon
NEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks jumped nearly 2 percent on Monday as a merger between two big banks in Greece suggested Europe was working through its financial problems and a rebound in consumer spending calmed fears about the U.S. economy.
Insurance company shares were higher after property damage
from Hurricane Irene was less than feared, according to early
estimates. Travelers Cos Inc
Wall Street was also relieved that damage in New York City, especially in lower Manhattan, from Irene was not as bad as feared. The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq opened on schedule, but volumes were expected to be thin.
Many Wall Street workers were stuck at home as many commuter rail and bus lines were crippled, while the New York City subway system slowly returned to service early Monday after a systemwide shutdown. [ID:nN1E77S005]
Financial stocks rallied on news that EFG Eurobank
The S&P financial index <.GSPF> was up 2.7 percent and the KBW Banks index <.BKX> nearly 3 percent.
"Hurricane Irene was not nearly as devastating as people had anticipated. In addition, people are talking about a bank merger in Greece, which is giving investors hope that this is part of the repair process to the sovereign debt problem in Europe," said Paul Nolte, managing director at Dearborn Partners in Chicago.
"It doesn't reduce risk, but it does allow for a consolidation, which could allow core capital ratios to be better than separately."
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> jumped 184.06 points, or 1.63 percent, at 11,468.60. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 20.70 points, or 1.76 percent, at 1,197.50. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> put on 46.09 points, or 1.86 percent, at 2,525.94.
Greek stocks rose more than 11 percent, with local banks
jumping 30 percent. U.S.-listed shares of National Bank of
Greece
U.S. consumer spending posted its largest increase in five months in July, data showed, supporting views the economy was not falling back into recession. [ID:nN1E77S0BS]
Also, July pending home sales fell 1.3 percent, matching forecasts, but remained higher than year-ago levels. [ID:nN1E76R0M3] (Reporting by Angela Moon; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)