Stocks fell at the open on Tuesday as uncertainty built up over the Federal Reserve's latest assessment of the economy from its monetary policy meeting later in the day.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 85.98 points, or 0.80 percent, to 10,612.77. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 9.22 points, or 0.82 percent, to 1,118.57. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 24.49 points, or 1.06 percent, to 2,281.20.

(Reporting by Matthew Lynley)