The Brown Brothers Harriman Team comments on the upcoming testimony of Yellen, further expecting her to explain why Fed’s patience with emergency-level rates may be drawing to a close. “The leadership at the Federal Reserve had led many to expect a mid-year lift off. However, doubts have grown, and this has corresponded with a consolidative phase for the dollar.” “After the FOMC minutes, the December Fed funds futures contract implied an average effective rate of less than 50 bp. Although the market corrected this view a little before the weekend, we expect Yellen make it clear the Fed's patience is not limitless." “A hike, not today or tomorrow, but four months from now is still reasonable.” “The Fed's leadership has been preparing the market gradually for a change in US monetary policy. The emergency settings that were so necessary in the darkest days are no longer needed. To be sure, the economy is not firing on all cylinders, but no one is really talking about a dramatic increase in interest rates.” “Look for Yellen to be patient with US Congress as she explains why the Fed's patience with emergency-level rates may be drawing to a close, and that this is a constructive sign. It is also through this lens that Yellen will likely address questions about the dollar. The exchange value of the dollar is one of the factors taken into account in assessing the monetary conditions." “The dollar's strength is a reflection of the relative performance of the US economy. Of course, part of the dollar's rise has been fueled by expectations of a Fed hike. Such anticipation will not be an important hurdle to the decision to hike rates later.”