Comments from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promising to backstop more bank deposits if necessary helped stocks rally on Tuesday. The Dow nabbed its third triple-digit gain in four sessions, while both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw solid wins of their own. Investors are now shifting their attention to tomorrow's conclusion of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, which is expected to bring a quarter-point interest rate hike. Elsewhere, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) settled at its lowest level since March 8.

GOLD PIVOTS LOWER AS BANK FEARS SUBSIDE

Oil prices settled higher on Tuesday, as sentiment around the bank sector continued to improve. Russia's decision to keep oil production at lower levels until June also boosted black gold. April-dated crude added $1.69, or 2.5%, to close at $69.33 per barrel on the day.

Meanwhile, gold prices staged their biggest drop in roughly six weeks as investors' interest in the safe-haven asset seemed to dwindle, though they still eyed tomorrow's interest rate decision. April-dated gold fell $41.70, or 2.1%, to settle at $1,941.10 per ounce.

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