It's hard to determine the impact that tapering will have on precious metals such as the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSEARCA:GLD). Each month, we are witnessing improving economic statistics, strengthening employment numbers, and low inflation metrics that would seem to support the notion of a recovering economy. This shift is largely a result of active investors trying to anticipate the threat of sharply rising interest rates when the Fed ultimately takes its foot off the gas pedal.