Stocks pared their early gains on Tuesday, with the S&P and Nasdaq turning negative, as early enthusiasm over possible stimulus from the Federal Reserve faded.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 5.22 points, or 0.05 percent, at 11,395.79. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 0.35 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,203.74. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 3.59 points, or 0.14 percent, at 2,609.24.

Wall Street had opened higher as investors waited to see if the Fed's policy-setting panel would offer aid to a sputtering U.S. economy.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)