The current economic resilience and stubborn inflation have made further monetary tightening through late 2026 a near certainty. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, traders anticipate a 25-basis-point increase this week, with an 80% probability of a follow-up hike before year-end. Kuptsikevich notes that while a more aggressive forecast from the FOMC could trigger a dollar rally and a subsequent sell-off in precious metals, the underlying market dynamics remain supportive of gold.

Spot gold recently traded at $4,334.80 an ounce, a 1% daily gain that suggests investors are currently shrugging off rate-hike pressures. The primary risk remains a hawkish pivot from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, mirroring his recent rhetoric at the Jackson Hole symposium. However, Kuptsikevich suggests that the traditional inverse correlation between the dollar and gold is being complicated by geopolitical friction and mounting U.S. fiscal concerns. As the White House exerts pressure on the central bank, the resulting "debasement trade" continues to bolster demand for safe-haven assets, making short-term price corrections potential opportunities for accumulation.