Uncertain economy may prompt Fed to delay rate hike, Janet Yellen suggests

Federal Reserve chair points to 'considerable uncertainty' in speech following weak jobs report on Friday, amid concerns over Brexit and Chinese economy

Hikes to US interest rates might be on hold again thanks to "considerable uncertainty about the economic outlook" Janet Yellen suggested in a speech on Monday.

Speaking at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, days after a surprisingly poor report on the state of the US job market, the Federal Reserve chair said gradual increases to the interest rates were "likely to be appropriate". But she omitted the phrase "in the coming months" - a phrase that, when spoken by Yellen 10 days ago, many economists took to imply that the Fed was ready to raise rates soon.

Related: US economy adds paltry 38,000 jobs in May for weakest growth since 2010