Good points re contracts. I strongly suspect they are moving Gold by moving SILVER first, and Gold follows in sympathy. Silver is still in their easy control, (joe sixpacks play) where as the global BIG money goes into Gold and much harder to control.
When Gold suddenly ran to $1900, it was because SILVER was suddenly pushed straight up from a very weak trend and lagging gold by YEARS. I think they needed incoming physical supplies of Gold, and only a very high price would accomplish that.
They don’t care what anything costs that they have to pay for. Their “income” is unlimited.