 The Federal Reserve is highlighting the importance of its political independence. In its twice-yearly report on interest rate policies, it stressed the vital need for the central bank to operate independent of political pressures. The Labor Department reports U.S. employers added a solid 206,000 jobs in June. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1 percent. Stocks rallied on the news, the S&P and the Nasdaq closing at new highs, a winning week for both and the Dow. This is AP News.