Quotes of futures on the level of the base interest rate in the U.S. indicate a 100 percent probability of its rise by the Federal Reserve System (FRS) by 50 basis points (bp) in May and June, Bloomberg reports.

The last time the U.S. Central Bank raised the rate by 50 bps in May 2000. Thereafter, the rate was increased at a rate of 25 b.p. exclusively.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and a number of other Fed officials have already hinted that the rate, currently at 0.25-0.5%, could be raised by 50 basis points at once.

Earlier this week, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) Governor James Ballard said that he does not rule out the possibility of raising the rate by 75 bps.

Traders expect the rate to be raised by 225 bp by the end of this year.