That's a big part of how Alcoa (NYSE: AA), ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT), and EQT (NYSE: EQT) managed to post gains on Tuesday. A high reading on producer prices signaled that inflation could be a persistent problem, and now, market participants are waiting to see what the Federal Reserve will say about monetary policy going forward. Finally, investors seemed to be comfortable with Alcoa's decision earlier this week to close its smelter operations in the Washington town of Wenatchee.