Computer & Video Games and GameSpot are the latest sites to chime in with reports from insiders who say that Half-Life 2 is indeed finished and / or gold. C&VG reports that Half-Life 2 has been submitted to the BBFC for certification (which usually doesn't happen when the game isn't close to being done yet), while Gamespot has this to say

Ever since the release candidate for Half-Life 2 was submitted to VU Games in mid-September, a piñata has hung in the lobby of Valve's headquarters. The plan: to bust the sucker open when the game achieved gold status. Earlier today, GameSpot learned from an informed sourced that "the piñata has been broken" and the game has gone gold. Further evidence of the game's completion was a press release issued this afternoon touting the first review of "the entire game." Though nothing official has been announced yet, it appears the fat lady is at last clearing her throat.