Fed noticed much more likely to ship larger charge cuts as task openings fall

(Reuters) – Traders on Wednesday added to bets that the Federal Reserve will deliver a half-a-percentage-point reduction at its next meeting, after data showed job openings in July fell to the lowest level in three and a half years. Traders still see a quarter-point reduction at the Fed’s Sept 17-18 meeting as the slightly more likelier move, but give a 50-basis-point cut about a 49% chance, up from 41% immediately before the data, rate futures contracts show.

(Reporting by Ann Saphir)