Sydney, Jan 30, 2026, 16:56 AEDT — Market closed.
- Northern Star ended down about 1.9% at A$28.94 on Friday.
- Gold slid more than 4% after hitting a fresh all-time high a day earlier.
- Investors now look to Northern Star’s Feb. 12 half-year results for cost and margin signals.
Northern Star Resources Ltd shares fell on Friday, tracking a sharp pullback in bullion that hit Australian-listed gold miners late in the week. The stock ended down about 1.9% at A$28.94. (Investing)
Gold slid more than 4% after scaling a record high on Thursday, with markets rattled by talk the U.S. could get a more hawkish Federal Reserve chair. “A potentially less dovish Fed Chairman pick, a rebound in the dollar and gold giving way to overbought conditions have contributed to the decline,” said Tim Waterer, chief trade analyst at KCM Trade. Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at StoneX, said the rumours weighed on gold during Asian trade. (Reuters)
The reversal matters for Northern Star now because the stock has been trading as a high-beta proxy for gold’s surge, while investors are also trying to pin down how much of the record bullion price translates into free cash flow once costs are accounted for. Friday’s slide was a reminder that the metal’s moves can swamp company-specific news in the short run.
Australian shares also softened into the close. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.65%, while gold-linked names were among the laggards; Newmont’s ASX-listed depositary receipt fell 7.84% and Genesis Minerals slid 8.91%, according to an Investing.com market wrap. (Investing)
Northern Star’s own cost line remains a key watchpoint. In a Jan. 20 update, the miner lifted its FY26 group all-in sustaining cost (AISC) guidance — a common industry measure that includes operating costs and sustaining capital — to A$2,600-A$2,800 per ounce, up from A$2,300-A$2,700 previously.
The next scheduled company catalyst is its FY26 half-year results on Feb. 12, when investors expect fresh detail on operating performance, costs and how management is positioning for volatility in the gold price. (Nsrltd)
A risk for bulls: if gold’s pullback deepens, miners can get hit twice — first on sentiment, then on margin fears — particularly for producers facing higher AISC bands and any renewed pressure from labour, diesel or contractor costs. A bounce in the U.S. dollar can also bite, even when bullion stays historically high.
For Monday’s session and the week ahead, traders will be watching whether bullion stabilises after Friday’s drop and whether macro headlines around the Fed chair decision keep the U.S. dollar firm — both likely to set the tone for Northern Star and the broader ASX gold complex heading into the Feb. 12 results.
