Divided Fed to leave rates untouched as US vote looms

WASHINGTON: Despite some division in its ranks, the US Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) as policymakers gathered in the shadow of the hotly contested presidential election.

Despite some recent signs of improving health in the world’s largest economy, analysts say the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed’s monetary policy board, is not under pressure to move on rates so close to the start of voting.