To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said a March rate hike would be “appropriate” if the economy continues to evolve as expected, signaling that the central bank will likely raise its benchmark interest rate sooner than many economists and investors had expected just a few weeks ago. Until as recently as last week, Wall Street saw a rate hike as likelier in June.