Bullard: Fed could hike interest rates next spring

``The Federal Reserve Bank  is close to its goals of stable prices and maximum employment, and the country's central bank may look at increasing short-term interest rates in a "sooner rather than later" time frame, according to  James B. Bullard  , president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of  St. Louis.'' -- Likely jawboning; they will back away/distance themselves from this come spring, almost for sure. Until then, this will serve nicely to keep commodities and precious metals a bit more muted.