Strong, stronger, strongest. That's how we can best describe the economic news that this week streamed out of the United States, official and unofficial. And, like many aspects of growth, sentiment counts.

There is a flurry of economic reporting activity this week. The first out of the gate, ADP's labor report, seems to have initially depressed gold prices, then that dip inspired investors to step in on bargain-hunting and short covering.

Gold essentially held steady today in advance of more data due out later this week from the U.S. Department of Labor.