Gold slips toward a third weekly loss, hovering near $4,315 as oil rally and firm US inflation bolster rate-hike bets

Gold is extending a third consecutive weekly decline as stronger oil prices and hotter US inflation data lift expectations for a near-term Fed rate hike. Higher policy-rate odds typically raise real yields and the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets, pressuring bullion demand. The setup implies continued sensitivity in precious metals to inflation prints, energy-driven inflation dynamics, and front-end rate repricing.