The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose modestly on Tuesday as the banking sector got a lift from positive analysts' comments, while minutes from the Federal Reserve's last meeting eased concern over rising interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> shed 3.56 points, or 0.03 percent, to close unofficially at 10,969.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 2.00 points, or 0.17 percent, to end unofficially at 1,189.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 7.28 points, or 0.30 percent, to finish unofficially at 2,436.81.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Paschal)