Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made it clear on Wednesday that the resilient U.S. labor market is currently the primary determinant of monetary policy, a signal that strong July employment figures could snuff out all bets for a September rate cut and reduce the likelihood of any further easing this year.

The chair acknowledged that if the Fed cut its rate too soon, inflation could move higher, and if it cut too late, then the job market could suffer.

The Fed is unlikely to cut rates in September, as inflation risks remain and most governors want more data before resuming rate cuts. Read what investors need to know.