A divided Federal Reserve left its policy rate unchanged for a sixth straight meeting, saying it would wait for more evidence of progress toward its goals while projecting that an increase is still likely by year-end.

Three Federal Reserve policymakers have expressed the view there is no hurry to raise US interest rates in the wake of the UK decision to leave the EU, despite signs the US economy is near full employment.

The Federal Reserve has decided against reducing its stimulus for the US economy.