Stocks opened higher on Tuesday as investors waited to see if the Federal Reserve's policy-setting panel offers aid to a sputtering U.S. economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 41.93 points, or 0.37 percent, at 11,442.94. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 4.68 points, or 0.39 percent, at 1,208.77. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> put on 11.19 points, or 0.43 percent, at 2,624.02.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)