Major U.S. stock-indexes were up on Tuesday, after two straight sessions of losses, as deal activity picked up in the consumer and healthcare sectors and investors waited for the outcome of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting. The central bank is unlikely to raise rates in this meeting but investors will watch for any hints from Fed Chair Janet Yellen at a press conference after the meeting on Wednesday about the timing of a possible rate increase - the first in about a decade. The Fed has said it remains data-dependent and will raise rates only when it sees an improvement in the economy. Second-quarter data points to a recovery after a halt in growth earlier in the year. U.S. housing starts fell in May after a sharp increase the previous month, but a surge in permits for future construction to a near eight-year high suggested the pullback was temporary and pointed to underlying strength in housing.

Almost all of Dow stocks in positive area (25 of 30). Top looser - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT, -0.93%). Top gainer - UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH, +1.74%).

S&P index sectors are mixed. Top gainer - Consumer goods (+0,7%). Top looser - Conglomerates (-0.7%).

At the moment:

Dow 17793.00 +81.00 +0.46%

S&P 500 2083.00 +7.50 +0.36%

Nasdaq 100 4438.75 +10.75 +0.24%

10-year yield 2.32% -0.04

Oil 60.01 +0.49 +0.82%

Gold 1180.80 -5.00 -0.42%