Stocks recovered some ground on Tuesday, with all three indexes making slight to moderate gains, after news of a solid U.S. Treasury auction for 2-year notes.

The boost from the auction was tempered, however, by news of a delay in Boeing's maiden flight of its 787 Dreamliner and some caution on the day before the Federal Reserve's assessment of economic conditions.

The Fed will conclude a 2-day policy-setting meeting on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 2.19 points, or 0.03 percent, at 8,341.20. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 3.56 points, or 0.40 percent, at 896.60. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 3.59 points, or 0.20 percent, at 1,769.78.

(Reporting by Ellis Mnyandu; Editing by Jan Paschal)