S&P 500 and Nasdaq rise as oil eases before Fed decision

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq advanced on Tuesday as easing oil prices supported risk appetite ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision this week, while investors assessed key corporate earnings. The Dow fell 0.14%, while the S&P rose 0.16% and the Nasdaq gained 0.38%. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady on Wednesday, though markets price in at least two more hikes by mid-2027 as inflation remains elevated amid the US-Iran conflict. Brent crude slipped for a second session but held near its highest level since late April, with tech leading gains among S&P sectors. Boeing fell 1.8% after a bigger-than-expected Q3 loss, while Royal Caribbean rose 6.5% on a raised profit forecast and General Motors gained 5% on its Nasdaq listing switch. Investors await earnings from Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon for evidence that AI investments are translating into growth.