Fed leaves interest rates unchanged in defiance of Trump’s calls for cuts

The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged after its latest board meeting, defying once again Donald Trump’s call for a cut as the central bank prepares for a leadership shake-up next month. On Wednesday, Fed officials continued to cite elevated inflation, slow job growth and uncertainty in the Middle East as reasons why rates were left untouched. “Jobs gains have remained low, on average, and the unemployment rate has been little changed in recent months. …