Investors have all but ruled out a move at this week's meeting given it takes place only a week before the U.S. presidential election. A number of Fed officials have recently said a December rate hike would be preferable. This week's Fed policy decision is due to be released at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) on Wednesday at the conclusion of a two-day meeting. At the meeting prior to raising rates last year, the Fed firmly signaled its intentions by including a reference to possibly raising rates "at its next meeting." With investors already expecting a December move, the Fed probably won't feel like it needs to lock in its intentions any more than necessary, said Lewis Alexander, chief U.S. economist at Nomura and a former Fed staffer.

Source: The Edge Markets November 01, 2016 05:58 UTC