(Refiles to insert missing word 'for' in quote in paragraph 4)

* Fed holds benchmark rate near zero

* Fed holds benchmark rate near zero

NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures settled 2.38 percent higher on Tuesday as the dollar weakened and the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark Federal Funds rate steady and reaffirmed its intent to keep rates low for an extended period.

Crude futures ended higher after two consecutive sessions finishing lower and settling below $80 a barrel on Monday.

NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures extended gains on Tuesday after the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark Federal Funds rate steady and reaffirmed its intent to keep rates low for an extended period.

Crude futures had been up ahead of the Fed decision as the dollar weakened. Ahead of the decision, crude was up $1.76 and it extended its rise by more than $2 but did not go above the earlier $82.04 intraday high.

* OPEC seen keeping output targets steady at Wed talks

* Coming up: Fed benchmark rate decision at 2:15 p.m. EDT

* OPEC seen keeping output targets steady at Wed talks

* Coming up: Fed benchmark rate decision at 2:15 p.m. EDT

* U.S. stocks edge higher ahead of Fed rate decision

* Fed expected to reiterate low rates for extended period

* Gold rises 1.5 pct as dollar hits session low, oil climbs * Coming Up: U.S. Fed interest rate statement at 1815 GMT * Gold/silver ratio slips to lowest since Jan. 25

(Releads, updates prices)

* FTSEurofirst 300 up 1 pct, reverses Monday's losses

* Banking stocks rally after S&P affirms Greece ratings

* OPEC seen keeping output targets steady at Wed talks

* Coming up: Fed benchmark rate decision at 2:15 p.m. EDT

NEW YORK, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose more than $2 on Tuesday as the dollar weakened, stock markets edged up and markets awaited results of a Federal Reserve policy meeting.

The dollar fell against the euro and a basket of currencies on expectations the Federal Reserve would repeat its intent to keep interest rates low for an extended period. [USD/]

U.S. CRUDE FUTURES UP $2 AT $81.80/BBL

* U.S. stocks flat, Fed seen leaving rates steady

* Fed expected to reiterate low rates for extended period

* Federal Reserve FOMC statement on tap

* Gold rises 1.5 pct as dollar hits session low, oil climbs * Coming Up: U.S. Fed interest rate statement at 1815 GMT * Gold/silver ratio slips to lowest since Jan. 25

(Releads, updates prices, adds comment)

* OPEC seen keeping output targets steady at Wednesday talks

* Stock market rally, weaker dollar help lifts prices

* Dollar index down 0.4 pct before FOMC statement

* Focus on Fed's economic outlook, possible more dissent

* OPEC seen keeping output targets steady at Wednesday talks

* Stock market rally, weaker dollar help lifts prices

* Banks bounce back after Monday's decline

* Commodity stocks rise, tracking metals, oil prices

* Federal Reserve FOMC statement on tap

* World shares gain ground ahead of U.S. rate decision

* Fed expected to keep "low for long" language on rates

* Federal Reserve FOMC statement on tap

* Risk aversion supports investment in gold * Coming Up: U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate statement * Gold/silver ratio slips to lowest since Jan. 25

(Updates, adds comment, changes dateline from SINGAPORE)

* OPEC seen keeping output targets steady at Wednesday talks

* China's expected policy tightening weighs

* World shares gain ground ahead of U.S. rate decision

* Fed expected to keep "low for long" language on rates

* FTSEurofirst 300 index up 0.7 percent

* Banking sector gains ahead of Fed meeting

* Asian shares pare gains, MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 0.3 percent

* Dollar softens before Fed, yen gains

* Asian shares pare gains, MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 0.3 percent

* Dollar softens before Fed, yen gains

* Gold edges up in thin trade

* Dollar steady ahead of Fed meeting

* Gold edges up in thin trade

* Dollar steady ahead of Fed meeting

* FOMC on Tues; focus on statement, number of dissenters

* Yen rises ahead of BOJ outcome, traders cut yen shorts

* Monetary policy focus; Fed meeting, China tightening worry

* OPEC meeting likely to leave output policy unchanged

* Asian shares edge up, MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 0.3 percent

* Dollar broadly steady before Fed, yen gains

* Asian shares edge up, MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 0.3 percent

* Dollar broadly steady before Fed, yen gains

* Gold holds near New York levels in thin trade

* Dollar steady ahead of Fed meeting

* Some commodities shares dip on China tightening worry

* Profit-taking in recent gainers tempers rise

* Monetary policy focus; Fed meeting, China tightening worry

* OPEC meeting likely to leave output policy unchanged

TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures were steady below $80 a barrel on Tuesday, after falling 1.8 percent to the lowest close in two weeks a day earlier as the dollar remained strong and ahead of U.S. industry data expected to show another build in crude inventories.

FUNDAMENTALS

TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - Gold prices inched up on Tuesday, underpinned by ongoing concerns over Europe's debt problems, but rises were capped with investors wary about a possible monetary tightening in China and ahead of a U.S rate decision.

FUNDAMENTALS

TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is expected to hold steady on Tuesday after hitting seven-week highs the day before, as investors await policy meetings by the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.

Digital camera and office equipment maker Canon Inc <7751.T> may get a lift from a Nikkei newspaper reporting saying it will likely post a near quadrupling of operating profit in the January-March quarter, beating expectations on strong sales of high-end digital cameras. [ID:nTOE62E09Q]

* Array of concerns knocks risky assets, lifts safe-havens

* Euro slips versus U.S. dollar as Greece woes persist

* Sovereign debt concerns boost safe-haven assets

* Risk aversion lifts dollar but gold resilient