Gold Prices Rise Ahead of FOMC Minutes Release
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, gold prices opened lower but rebounded to $4,479.90 per troy ounce in early trading as the U.S. dollar and Treasury yields declined slightly ahead of the release of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes from its July meeting. Investors are closely watching for clues about the Fed's future interest rate outlook amid ongoing Middle East tensions, which pose inflation risks, and recent soft retail sales data. The CME FedWatch estimates a 67.4% chance that no rate change will occur at the September meeting. A decline in rate-hike expectations has supported gold prices, with gains of over 10% seen in three weeks. The U.S. Dollar Index fell by 0.2%, and the CBOE 10-Year Treasury yield dropped 0.4%. Gold's one-month gain stands at +10.5%, while its year-to-date increase is 31.9%.
Topics: FOMC minutes gold interest rates