US STOCKS SNAPSHOT-Nasdaq hits session high on tech rally

NEW YORK, Feb 2 - The Nasdaq hit a session high and the S&P 500 edged into positive territory on Monday as gains in tech shares offset weakness in financial stocks amid uncertainty about the Obama administration's plan to stem bank losses.

* The Dow Jones industrial average fell 39.66 points, or 0.50 percent, to 7,961.20. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 1.53 points, or 0.19 percent, to 827.41. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 21.38 points, or 1.45 percent, to 1,497.80.

* Investors' bets that technology stocks might be among early beneficiaries from a likely economic stimulus helped propel the Nasdaq higher. Tech standouts included bellwethers Microsoft and Intel Corp, both up more than 5 percent.

* The boost from tech was limited by declines in shares of big manufacturers, including 3M Co, down nearly 6 percent, and Boeing, off 3.3 percent. Among financials, Bank of America Corp slid almost 8 percent, while JPMorgan declined 1.5 percent.