JACKSON HOLE, Wyo.—Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell rebutted criticisms that the central bank is undermining the economic expansion by raising interest rates, his first public comments since President Trump’s recent criticisms of the Fed’s actions. Mr. Powell’s remarks, delivered Friday at an annual central banking conference in the Grand Tetons, underscored the Fed’s intent to operate independent of any political pressure—even from the White House.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 24, 2018 14:04 UTC