Maybe it's just me, but I haven't seen much of the cartel lately making a punching bag out of gold and silver. Perhaps they're just doing Ali's rope-a-dope waiting to deliver a knock out punch when we bugs are all giddy with our guard down.
However, since I've read more than once lately that The Bernank wants the dollar down, like soon, the cartel may have been told to lay off for awhile, since tanking the PM's hard would hinder the dollar's fall, though a little dab here and there might be okay.
Suspicious behavior for the cartel, imo, and inquiring minds would like to know.