Fed cuts rates again but throws cold water on a December rate cut

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25% on Wednesday, even as the ongoing government shutdown restricts the release of critical economic data — though Fed chair Jerome Powell threw cold water on Wall Street's bets on another rate cut by year-end.

Why it matters: It's the second straight rate cut aimed at safeguarding America's weakening jobs market, but the Fed policymakers were sharply divided, and the path of interest rates ahead looks uncertain

What they're saying: "In the committee's discussions at this meeting, there were strongly differing views about how to proceed in December," Powell said in a post-meeting news conference. • "A further reduction in the policy rate at the December meeting is not a foregone conclusion. Far from it," Powell said. • Two members of the Fe