Fed seen skipping October rate hike as job market cools

Federal Reserve officials are considering delaying their next interest rate hike, as new data indicates the labor market is weakening more than anticipated. The US economy added a mere 29,000 jobs in September, falling short of the 90,000 anticipated by economists. The Labor Department also revised August's employment figures downward.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate climbed to 4.2% from 4.1% in the previous month. In an effort to curb inflation and steer it back towards the Fed's 2% target, the central bank increased its benchmark interest rate by 0.25% in September. Fed policymakers have indicated they may raise rates once more before the year is out, provided the recent spate of geopolitical events and other inflationary pressures persist, and the labor market remains resilient.

Following the release of the employment data on Friday, market participants priced the likelihood of a rate increase at the Fed's October gathering at less than 20%, down from over 25% previously. Moreover, traders have adjusted their expectations for a potential December rate hike, reducing the probability to nearly 90%.