Gold ended a three-week losing streak with a rally on Friday, despite the strong US dollar and political unrest in Europe, which bolstered its appeal as a safe-haven asset. Technical analysis suggests that gold is in a consolidation phase, with strong support at $2300. The Bank of Japan’s bond purchase policy and potential future interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve could further boost gold prices. Despite a slight pullback at the start of this week, gold remains a preferred hedge against inflation.