Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday, helped by gains for gold miners, other materials stocks, and banks, as bullion prices rose ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve rate decision.

Barrick Gold Corp (ABX.TO) jumped 2.9 per cent to $26.97 after Reuters reported the world's largest gold producer is weighing a sale of its majority stake in an African miner.

The country's biggest banks were also among the index's most influential gainers, with Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) up 0.7 per cent at $80.41 and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) adding 0.7 per cent to $66.26.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended the day up 51.90 points, or 0.36 per cent, at 14,550.00.

Six of its 10 main sectors rose, with the materials group that includes precious and base metal miners and fertilizer companies up 2.2 per cent.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dipped 0.1 per cent to end at 18,473.75 and the S&P 500 .SPX edged up 0.03 per cent to 2,169.18 after spending much of the day at a loss. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC added 0.24 per cent to 5,110.05.

Goldcorp Inc (G.TO) rose 1.5 per cent to $24.16 and Potash Corp (POT.TO) gained 2.6 per cent to $22.90.

But with the index just off its highest close in a year investors are nervous that further gains are unlikely.

"I think we are vulnerable given the fact that valuations are now pushing quite high and the financial results are not stellar, they merely exceed reduced expectations," said Steve Belisle, senior portfolio manager at Manulife Asset Management.

He said that energy companies looked particularly exposed given sharp recent gains that priced in further appreciation in the price of oil.

"If the price slips back to $40 you have a lot of downside in some of the stocks," Belisle said.

U.S. crude CLc1 hit a three-month low and settled down 0.5 per cent at $42.92 a barrel amid worries of a return to a supply glut.

The most influential weights on the index included pipeline companies Enbridge Inc (ENB.TO), down 0.6 per cent to $51.80, and TransCanada Corp (TRP.TO), off 0.4 per cent at $60.07.

The overall energy group, however, rose 0.5 per cent despite the broader supply concerns.

Gold rose as the U.S. dollar .DXY slipped ahead of a two-day Federal Reserve policy meeting, which will be closely watched for clues on the outlook for U.S. interest rates.

Westjet Airlines Ltd (WJA.TO) and Canadian National Railway Co (CNR.TO) both ended lower despite reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings.

Online bingo operator Intertain Group Ltd (IT.TO) slumped 10.4 per cent to $10.09 after saying it plans to list on the London Stock Exchange as it pursues a U.K.-focused strategy.