Federal Reserve officials shifted their tone this week, inching closer to the conversation markets have long been having: When will the central bank begin cutting interest rates? A litany of policymakers — including six who will vote on policy next year — indicated in recent days that they were comfortable with keeping rates steady at their December meeting, encouraged by the downward trend in inflation and data showing a slowing economy. Though Fed officials showed little interest in discussing rate cuts, markets quickly latched onto comments by Governor Christopher Waller. An inflation hawk closely followed by Wall ... (full story)