UPDATE 1-Fed's Yellen says rate hike may be warranted later this year
March 27, 2015 at 16:19 PM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - An interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve may be warranted later this year, with a gradual path expected to follow, although a downturn in core inflation or wage growth could force it to hold off, the central bank's chief said on Friday.