Federal Reserve likely to consider rate hike

Whispers that the Federal Reserve could consider a rate hike as soon as June have been on the increase since last week's strong US February employment report. 

Rabo Bank notes in a report on Wednesday:

• US economic data so far this week has been sparse with January wholesale trade and February NFIB small business optimism both disappointing.
  
  
• An article by the WSJ's Chief Economics Correspondent Hilsenrath suggesting that a June move was in the running has fanned rate hike speculation further. 
  
  
• Stock markets are again mostly lower across the board with the clear exception being the Nikkei 225 which is being supported by the buoyant tone of USD/JPY.