Bitget CFD Chief Analyst Says FOMC Minutes Are Hawkish, Market Focuses on Duration of High Rates

Bitget CFD Chief Analyst Lewis Huang stated that the minutes from the Federal Reserve's July FOMC meeting overall signal a hawkish stance. Although the meeting kept interest rates unchanged, several officials emphasized that if inflation does not consistently decline to the 2% target, further tightening of policy or even another rate hike remains a viable option. This means that the market should not simply trade based on expectations of rate cuts in the short term, but rather reassess the impact of prolonged high rates on the dollar, U.S. Treasury yields, gold, and U.S. stock valuations. Market direction will be determined by a combination of inflation and employment data: if CPI, PCE, or wage data rise and the job market remains resilient, the dollar and U.S. Treasury yields may strengthen, while gold and high-valuation assets like the Nasdaq 100 could come under pressure; conversely, if inflation significantly cools and employment and consumption weaken simultaneously, the market will likely raise expectations for Fed easing, providing support for gold, non-U.S. currencies, and risk assets. CFD traders are advised to pay attention to the correlation between the U.S. two-year Treasury yield, the dollar index, and gold, waiting for price breakouts and pullback confirmations after major data releases, while avoiding chasing the initial wave of volatility and strictly controlling leverage and stop-loss risks.