Global demand for gold hit 4,067.1 tonnes last year, the highest since 1997. Click here for link.

The increase came in large part from a 5% increase in investment demand (largely from Asia). And as global central banks continue losing faith in paper money, they’ve continued to stockpile gold. Central banks were net buyers of gold in 2011' They bought 439.7 tonnes (a sixfold increase in demand year over year)' That’s the most gold since the end of the gold standard in 1971.

Notice the 144 MA support @ USD1710 remained one of the strongest support. It bounds off whenever it touches the 144MA.