Sydney, February 2, 2026, 17:41 (AEDT) — Trading after-hours
ALS Ltd (ALQ.AX) fell 1.7% to close at A$24.23 on Monday, finishing close to the day’s lowest point following a volatile session.
The stock fluctuated between A$24.11 and A$24.43, with the latest ASX announcement dated Jan. 12, according to the company’s investor relations page. (ALS Global)
Volume surged well beyond the norm, with roughly 3.07 million shares traded compared to the typical 10-day average of 1.31 million. Despite a dip on Monday, the stock still boasts an 11.8% gain so far in 2026.
For the year, the stock is up about 52%, with its price swinging between A$14.10 and A$25.28 over the last 12 months, according to market data. (Small Caps)
That surge has placed ALS alongside other high-multiple inspection and testing firms, despite differences in their business models. MarketScreener categorizes it with global peers like Bureau Veritas and Intertek.
ALS’s one-year gain stands at roughly 50%, according to the data service, which also noted that Monday’s decline involved over 3 million shares changing hands. (MarketScreener)
Local investors showed caution on all fronts. Australia’s ASX 200 slipped roughly 1% Monday, dragged down notably by gold miners as metal prices swung sharply.
Traders shifted positions ahead of Tuesday’s Reserve Bank of Australia rate decision, according to Australian media. (ABC News)
Market Index data showed the materials sector dropped about 3% during the session, following a late-Friday shock in commodity markets that spooked traders into shedding risk.
The site flagged “elevated volatility” as sharp swings in silver, gold, and copper spilled over into ASX materials stocks. (Market Index)
Overseas, the sell-off kicked off with precious metals and quickly intensified. Silver tumbled as much as 14.2%, while gold dropped 7.5%, according to Reuters’ instant view. Asian equities and U.S. futures also slipped.
Analysts pointed to deleveraging and margin calls as the metal slump spread into wider markets. (Reuters)
Gold fell 7.8% to roughly $4,515 an ounce on Monday, with silver plunging 14.4% to $73, according to the Financial Times.
Raymond Cheng of Standard Chartered described the shift as a “pullback from speculative positions in gold,” noting the rally had lost momentum. (Financial Times)
Currency markets reacted swiftly. The Australian dollar dropped to a one-week low before finding some footing. Traders are now assigning roughly a 75% probability of a 25-basis-point (0.25%) rate hike by the RBA on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
“But the pick-up in volatility also means AUD/USD is susceptible to sharp moves down,” warned Joseph Capurso, head of foreign exchange at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. (Reuters)
ALS occupies a unique spot where commodities meet services. Market Index labels the company as a global testing firm catering to various industries and classifies it under the ASX industrials sector.
The calendar shows a forecasted report date on May 26 as the next key milestone for the company. (Market Index)
The immediate threat is that the commodity shock lingers, pushing investors to view all mining-linked assets as cash cows. A surprise pause from the RBA might shake markets, though a steeper hike cycle would also weigh heavily on valuations.
If metal prices hold steady overnight, Monday’s losses might reverse just as fast.
Tuesday’s key highlight comes after 2:30 p.m. (AEDT) with the RBA’s “Monetary Policy Changes” update. The central bank’s calendar also lists minutes from the Feb. 17 meeting. (Gov)
