Stocks cut gains after a minor earthquake sent tremors along the east coast on Tuesday but a highly anticipated address by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke later this week kept markets higher.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 176.50 points, or 1.63 percent, to 11,031.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 20.66 points, or 1.84 percent, to 1,144.48. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 60.89 points, or 2.60 percent, to 2,406.27.

Ben Bernanke