3-27-14 The yield curve continued to flatten today as the gap between U.S. five-year and 30-year Treasuries narrowed to the least since October 2009. Federal Reserve Chair Yellen said last week that policymakers may increase the Fed funds rate by the middle of 2015 if economic growth warrants it. GDP growth seems to be picking up; stronger than expected data shows that the economy is gaining strength, jobless claims have been decreasing and the Treasury may pick up the pace of tapering in months to come. According to a Bloomberg survey of economists, interest rates will rise in coming months.