Uncertainty hangs over the Federal Reserve as they prepare for their next policy decision, with minutes from the October meeting to be released Thursday morning UTC+8. Investors are grappling with how US interest rates will move forward after the Fed’s last rate adjustment lowered them to a range of 3.75%-4%. While market expectations had centered around a December rate cut, recent comments from Chairman Jerome Powell and Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins have dashed those hopes. With the possibility of a December rate cut seemingly off the table, uncertainty regarding US economic direction lingers. The impact of the recent government shutdown has further hampered this decision-making process. With key labor market and inflation data delayed due to the 43-day shutdown, investors are left grappling with an information gap as the Fed prepares for the December meeting.