<p>U.S. stock index futures stutter-stepped Tuesday, amid investor caution ahead of the start of the two-day Federal Reserve meeting.</p><p>European and Asian shares were also lower, reversing Monday's risk rally.</p><p>U.S. stocks edged higher on Tuesday, ahead to the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting where the FOMC will debate whether to scale back the central bank’s stimulus program from $85 billion per month to $70 billion to $75 billion.</p><p>On the economic front, consumer prices ticked up 0.1 percent in August as the cost of energy fell, according to the Labor Department. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a gain of 0.2 percent.</p><p>Also on Tuesday, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) said its housing-market index remained flat at 58 this month, as August’s figure was revised slightly downward from 59 to 58.</p><p>The Dow Jones industrial average rose 39.68 points or 0.26 percent, to 15,534.46. The S&P 500 gained 5.68 points or 0.33 percent, to 1,703.27. The Nasdaq Composite added 18.41 points or 0.5 percent, to 3,736.38.</p><p> </p><p>Video Credit: Reuters</p>
