Saturday 27 August 2016

US stocks and bonds fall as Yellen sees stronger case for higher rates

US markets fell on Friday.

The S&P 500 Index fell 0.2 percent and US 10-year Treasury yields rose five basis points to 1.62 percent.

Markets fell after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen cited “continued solid performance of the labor market” in saying that the “case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened in recent months” in her speech on Friday at a meeting of central bankers and economists in Jackson Hole.

Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer told CNBC on Friday that the US economy has strengthened and is “reasonably close to what is thought of as full employment”.

He added that Yellen's comments were consistent with the possibility of as many as two rate hikes this year.

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