U.S. stocks ended higher after wavering in a tight range Monday, as investors digested a speech from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 39.65 points, or 0.20 percent, to 19,883.06. The S&P 500 added 4.46points, or 0.20 percent, to 2,262.53. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 20.28 points, or 0.37 percent, to5,457.44.
All three major U.S. indexes ended higher but lost some steam after German police said a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing nine people and injuring up to 50 others.
That rattled U.S. investors already eyeing potential global troubles after the Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot dead in Ankara.
The safe-haven Japanese yen was up in early Asian trade on Monday after attacks in Germany and Turkey spooked investors, while regional stocks were steady as financial markets pondered upbeat comments from the Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
Traders were also looking ahead to the Bank of Japan's rates decision later in the day, and while policy settings are set to be kept steady the focus will be on Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's take on surging global bond yields and the impact on rates in Japan.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 0.2 percent in early trade on Tuesday, while Tokyo's Nikkei .N225 was flat.
Reference: Reuters, Xinhua
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