Original article by Nick Timiraos
The Australian – Page: 30 : 26-May-17

Speculation that the US Federal Reserve will increase interest rates in June 2017 has gathered pace following the release of the minutes from its policy meeting for May. The minutes show that a majority of board members feel that the economic outlook may soon justify an increase in short-term interest rates. Futures traders now consider the chances of a rate rise in June to be about 80 per cent. Meanwhile, the central bank has issued a staff briefing which looks at options for reducing its balance sheet, which has risen to $US4.5trn as a result of quantitative easing.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE INDEX