I see nothing on the near term horizon to suggest that this is going to change as we begin 2014, barring some sort of catalyst such as an event that comes out of nowhere. Right now the VIX is indicating complete complacency and a total lack of fear/concern anywhere.
The daily chart shows the price moving down into a most important technical support zone. Gold has been able to garner enough buying on forays into this zone to force a rebound in the price, even if that rebound did not last all that long. Whether or not these buyers remain willing at this level is unclear. If not, gold is going to break the bottom of the support zone near $1180 and will easily lose another $30 for starters. If the buyers show up, then the metal can continue to grind sideways above this support zone but without a catalyst to kick it higher, the intermediate trend dictates that rallies in the metal should be sold.
I am noting that the ADX is moving sideways indicating that the downtrend has temporarily halted on the daily chart but that the bears remain firmly in control of this market. If support at $1180 breaks, look for the ADX to turn up as gold will resume its downtrend and might then target the $1100 level depending on how many hedge funds decide to exit from the long side of this market. Remember, they are still net longs in there and that is what concerns me that the bleeding in gold is not yet finished.
We got the CFTC Commitments of Traders data released this afternoon as the report was delayed due to the Christmas holiday last week. It did indicate some long liquidation from the hedge fund community occurred last week but they still are NET LONGS in this market to the tune of some 28,700 contracts. The Other Large Reportables actually increased their net long position about 3,800 contracts with the result that the two groups of large speculators remain net longs. The small specs, or general public, actually finally moved to a small net short position.
The big, bad bullion banks were generally buying again this week but never fear, the "gold is always manipulated at all times crowd" will swear up and down that these banks are the ones that are knocking the price lower. Both the Producer/User/Merchant category and the Swap Dealers were Buying from Hedge funds who were selling this past week.
All in all, the report provides further evidence that money flows are coming out of gold and into equities. This is the reason the gold price is continuing to sag lower. It will until this process ends and then reverses.