Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, said the US economy was performing well and that Fed rate-setters might consider raising rates at their meeting next month.

美联储(Fed)主席珍妮特耶伦(Janet Yellen)表示，美国经济表现良好，美联储利息制定者可能考虑在下月会议上加息。

The “downside risks” to the US economy from global economic and financial developments have diminished since September, the Fed chair said in a congressional hearing, reiterating the positive message the Fed projected after its October meeting.

这位美联储主席在国会听证会上表示，全球经济和金融事态给美国经济带来的“下行风险”自9月以来已经降低，她重申了美联储在10月会议后发出的积极信号。

Ms Yellen added that spare capacity in the jobs market had fallen “significantly” since earlier in the year, even if there had been a recent slowdown in the pace of job gains.

耶伦补充说，自今年早些时候以来，就业市场的闲置劳动力已“显著”减少，尽管就业增长的速度最近有所放缓。

In light of this, the Fed’s December 15-16 meeting would be a “live possibility” for an increase in rates, Ms Yellen added.

耶伦补充说，鉴于这种局面，美联储12月15日至16日的会议将存在加息的“真正可能性”。

Her bullish remarks pushed the dollar higher and lifted short-term yields, adding to gains following robust services data from the Institute for Supply Management.

耶伦的乐观言论推升了美元汇率及美国短期国债的收益率，扩大了它们此前在美国供应管理学会(Institute for Supply Management)公布强劲服务业数据后出现的涨幅。