The odds of a 25-basis-point rate cut fell to less than 60% shortly after Powell's comments, down from 80%, as calculated by the CME FedWatch Tool. The probability remained lower, around 58%, on Friday morning.

Traders see an interest-rate cut next month as a coin toss as resilient economic data empowers Federal Reserve officials to take a potentially more-cautious approach to easing.

By Howard Schneider WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Strong U.S. economic and inflation data continue to reshape the debate among Federal Reserve policymakers over the pace and extent of interest rate cuts as investors on Friday further downgraded their expectations for a rate reduction at the central bank's December meeting.