"In other words the market is contradicting itself. Signals of a failing Europe reflected in the gold price but the market remains relatively stable. I can't work it out."
The markets never ever follow fundamentals. If they did we would all be millionaires, within a week.
Gold is sitting at least 50% above Oct 2009 prices, what more do people want? Getting to $1900 was all about hype to leave someone holding it when cash in time came. Rinse and repeat.