Wall St Week Ahead: US government shutdown in focus

Investors' main worry is that the shutdown will suspend the flow of timely economic data. — Reuters

NEW YORK: The US government shutdown tops investors' agenda next week as markets head into the seasonally strong fourth quarter, with equities near record highs bracing for an earnings-season test later this month.

A deep partisan rift in Washington led to a federal government shutdown that risks delaying crucial economic data and could potentially muddy the Federal Reserve's policy-easing outlook.