Fed poised to hike rates as markets anticipate inflation endgame 

WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday, marking the 11th hike in the US central bank’s past 12 policy meetings and possibly a last move in its aggressive battle to tame inflation. 

The increase, anticipated by investors with nearly a 100 percent probability, would raise the benchmark overnight interest rate to the 5.25 percent to 5.50 percent range. That would bring it to roughly the highest level since the approach to the 2007-2009 financial crisis and recession.