US central bankers are sharply divided over whether to increase interest rates again this year amid persistently weak inflation, but many still favor a hike, meeting minutes released Wednesday showed.

The continuing disagreements among members of the Federal Reserve could leave investors and market watchers guessing about the path of US monetary policy in the waning months of the year.

Policymakers also said the economic effects of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, which tore a path of destruction across US territories between August and September, were likely to be only temporary, according to a record of the Fed's most recent meeting last month.

source: AFP