MUFG rates strategist John Hermmann said....>

US VIEW: MUFG rates strategist John Hermmann said that he sees "stronger" U.S.

"growth in the next 2-3 years, and more resilient growth", which will in turn

lower the US unemployment rate from the 4.1% current rate. 

- "The Fed thinks it will dip to only 3.9% in the next two years, and the market

thinks it will dip to 3.8%," he added. "But he said "we think it will be at 3.1%

by the end of 2019-early 2020, the lowest since 1953. So we think the Fed will

hike rates 3 times this year (2018), 3 times in 2019 and once or twice in 2020."

- Should the growth occur as he expects, he believes that more consumers will be

encouraged enough to take on big-ticket items such as houses, he added.