The Federal Reserve is about to cut rates … but by how much?

The move is widely expected - but will still be studied closely as dark clouds loom on the US horizon

Economic moments are often forecast with great certainty, but few will have been as widely expected as an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve this week.

Analysts have included a reduction in the cost of borrowing by the US central bank in their forecasts for more than a month and investors have placed their bets accordingly.