"Glorieux, can you offer any insight into why Kitco is not only bearish on gold, but actually takes action to force down the price? One would think, their main product being gold, they would actively promote it and encourage bullish sentiment towards it?"

Because...then kitco buys back the gold they sold for higher prices at lower cost and then resells it again when the price goes up. They too are there to make money.....to say nothing of the premium they collect for the transaction.