NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - U.S. stock markets could tip up at the open Tuesday, but investors may choose to hold tight ahead of a statement from Federal Reserve policy makers on the state of the economy due in afternoon trading.

A strong report on durable goods orders helped lift futures ahead of a reading on consumer confidence and more quarterly results.

At 8:40 a.m. ET, futures pointed to a higher start for the major indexes.

The Fed is expected to hold key rates at their lowest levels in more than four decades. But what's up in the air is what their meeting statement, due around 2:15 p.m. ET, will say about the shape of the economy. Some observers are concerned that if the Fed keeps low rates going past the start of a turnaround, it could trigger a wave of inflation down the road.

Ahead of the meeting announcement, investors digested a strong report on durable goods orders. The government said durable goods orders rose 0.8 percent in September, from a revised 0.1 percent drop in August. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com expected a 1.4 percent rise, according to Reuters.

After trading starts, the Conference Board releases its October report on consumer confidence. The index is seen climbing to 79.3 from 76.8 in September.

While no Dow components are scheduled to report results Tuesday, some big name companies were weighing in early.

Regional phone service provider Verizon Communications (VZ: Research, Estimates) posted net earnings of 64 cents a share, 2 cents better than expected by analysts, but lower than in the same quarter last year, according to Reuters Research.

Biotech developer Biogen (BGEN: Research, Estimates) earned 51 cents a share, excluding one-time items, better than the 43 cents expected by analysts, on average, according to a poll by Reuters Research.

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Paint splotcher Sherwin-Williams (SHW: Research, Estimates) was also set to post results.

The Dow Jones industrial average began the week Monday with a modest 0.3 percent gain aided in part by big merger announcements in the banking and health care management industries. The Nasdaq composite index rose by a more substantial 0.9 percent (see chart for details).

Asian-Pacific stocks ended higher Tuesday, buoyed by the U.S. gains, with Tokyo's Nikkei index up 1 percent. European markets mostly rose in at midday there. (Check the latest on world markets)

Among U.S. stocks trading in Europe, Bank of America (BAC: Research, Estimates) slipped slightly on the day after it announced a proposed $47 billion acquisition of FleetBoston Financial (FBF: Research, Estimates).

Treasury prices fell in early trading, slipping even further on the durable goods report, sending the 10-year note yield up to 4.30 percent from 4.26 percent late Monday. The dollar slipped against the yen, although it was off the three-year low around ¥108.20 reached overnight; the U.S. currency was higher versus the euro.

Brent oil futures slipped 20 cents to $28.19 a barrel in London, where gold was lower in early trading.