Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said in an interview with Japan's The Nikkei on Thursday that he expected three interest rate hikes by the Fed this year.

"I just think there's still scope for three increases this year. I do not expect four increases, but I think there is scope for three," he said.

Lockhart noted that the Fed could raise its interest rate at its next meeting in April if the economic is strong.

Atlanta Fed president also said that the U.S. economy continued to expand moderately, adding that he expected the economy to grow "a bit better than 2%" in 2016.