Still, as during past pullbacks in a long-running bull market in gold, analysts look for investors to use the retreat as a buying opportunity since sovereign-debt problems have not been cured and the U.S. economy remains anemic.
But for the moment, politicians in Madrid continue to say it's not the Spanish bull that's running on empty -- but the Spanish banks whose cupboards are dry.
This week in Brazil, Red Bull's engine manufacturer Renault will have the cars running with a new-specification alternator, even though the team especially chose the older one last week.