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Once again all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve as it holds its monetary policy meeting next week and along with its interest rate decision will release updated economic projections. Economists are also expecting the central bank to unveil its plan to top its balance sheet reduction program.

“The median growth projection looks certain to be revised down,” said economists at Capital Economics

However, according to some analysts, these expectations are already baked into the market.

“I think the Fed pause story is largely played out,” said Ryan McKay, commodity strategist with TD Securities. “Ultimately, if gold is going to go higher we need to see weaker U.S. data. The U.S. economy still appears strong compared to the rest of the world and that is keeping the U.S. dollar bid.”

Although the central bank is expected to downgrade their growth and interest rate forecasts, Jasper Lawler, head of research at London Capital Group, said that he does not expect the Federal Reserve to be anywhere near dovish as the European Central Bank was two weeks ago when it surprise markets with a shift in its forward guidance, not expecting to see any rate hike until at least the end of the year.

Lawler added that there is a risk that the Fed sounds hawkish as it downplays a potential slowdown in the domestic economy.

“If the Fed says that it’s adjusting its growth because of risks in the global economy or anything along those lines that could make them sound a little hawkish,” he said.

Hansen added that a goldilocks outlook from the Fed -- not too hot and not too cold -- will also keep a bid under equity markets, which will cap any rally in gold.

Once again all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve as it holds its monetary policy meeting next week and along with its interest rate decision will release updated economic projections. Economists are also expecting the central bank to unveil its plan to top its balance sheet reduction program.

“The median growth projection looks certain to be revised down,” said economists at Capital Economics

However, according to some analysts, these expectations are already baked into the market.

“I think the Fed pause story is largely played out,” said Ryan McKay, commodity strategist with TD Securities. “Ultimately, if gold is going to go higher we need to see weaker U.S. data. The U.S. economy still appears strong compared to the rest of the world and that is keeping the U.S. dollar bid.”

Although the Federal Reserve is not expecting to be dovish enough to drive gold prices higher, analysts are still not ready to give up on the yellow metal just yet.

Lawler said that the trend in gold is still higher as he sees sticky support around $1,280 an ounce. He added that gold remain an attractive safe-haven asset as global economic uncertainty builds.

“Overall there is still strong appetite for gold,” he said. “I expect that any significant drop in gold prices will attract new buyers.”

Hansen said that although there is technical bearish threats building in gold, it difficult to see prices falling significantly lower.

“There are still a lot of reasons to hold gold so I don’t see much downside either,” he said.

Hansen added that he continue to remain long-term bullish on gold as long as prices hold above the key retracement level around $1,275 an ounce.

McKay also said that he sees limited downside for gold because of the global economy. Although U.S. economy remains resilient to outside threats, it can’t remain strong on its own.

“At this point in the growth cycle a slowdown is natural,” he said. “But if something breaks in China and Europe that will impact U.S. growth as well. On the back of slowing global economy, I don’t see a lot of reasons to be overly bearish on gold.”

Although Hansen is long-term bullish on gold, he said that he is watching gold’s technical closely as the price action is creating a bear flag formation.

“If we break below the recent lows at $1,290, we could see a sharp selloff,” he said.