Gold price (XAU/USD) strengthens this week as the rally in US Treasury yields halts amid fading hopes of more interest-rate increases from the Federal Reserve (Fed). US headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) has come down to 3.2% from its peak of 9.1% due to an aggressive rate-tightening cycle, but the Fed will likely have to keep interest rates higher for a longer period as the remaining excess inflation above the desired rate of 2% seems extremely stubborn.