Gold nears record $3,600/oz level as weak US jobs data fuels rate-cut bets

By Ashitha Shivaprasad (Reuters) - Gold's powerful rally took on fresh legs on Friday, with prices just cents away from $3,600 per ounce, as weak U.S. jobs data further raised expectations for bullion-supportive Federal Reserve rate cuts. Spot gold was up 1.5% at $3,596.01 per ounce, as of 1636 GMT, having hit a record $3,599.89 earlier. The metal is now on track for its strongest weekly gain in