Markets sank Friday, tracking a selloff on Wall Street as doubts built over next month's Federal Reserve interest rate decision and persistent speculation about a tech bubble.

With the US shutdown saga now out the way, focus returned to the central bank's policy meeting next month, when officials will decide whether or not to lower borrowing costs again.

For much of the year, equities have been boosted by optimism that rates would come down, despite persistent inflation -- and the Fed has delivered at its past two gatherings.

But comments from bank boss Jerome Powell last month that a December repeat was not "a foregone conclusion" sowed the seeds of doubt, while several other decision-makers have made similar noises.

The latest came this week, with three regional presidents voicing co

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