Sydney, Jan 18, 2026, 17:08 AEDT — The market has closed for the day.
- Northern Star Resources finished Friday at A$26.83, slipping 1.0%.
- The miner will release its December-quarter results on Jan. 22, with investors watching closely for cost guidance.
- Gold dipped on Friday following a record peak earlier this week, weighing on investor sentiment.
Northern Star Resources Ltd shares slipped ahead of the weekend as focus turns to the gold miner’s December-quarter report, set for release later this week.
With the ASX closed Sunday, investors will shift focus from Friday’s move to the company’s updates on costs and mine performance. 1
The pressing challenge is restoring confidence. Northern Star needs to prove it can stabilise processing and deliver consistent tonnes through the plant — what miners refer to as “throughput” — following a tough quarter that forced a guidance reset.
This is crucial now as gold prices swing sharply near record highs, leaving miners vulnerable to rapid margin erosion if costs spike unexpectedly.
Northern Star (ASX:NST) closed Friday at A$26.83, slipping 1.03% for the day. Still, it remains about 9% above last week’s level, according to market data. 2
Earlier this month, the company lowered its fiscal 2026 gold sales forecast to 1.6 million to 1.7 million ounces, down from the previous range of 1.7 million to 1.85 million ounces, citing equipment breakdowns and unexpected downtime that impacted December-quarter sales.
In reply to an ASX query, Northern Star said it cannot yet quantify how this will affect its annual cost guidance. The company plans to share December-quarter costs and updated annual guidance when it releases quarterly results. It also reported a primary crusher failure at KCGM, the Kalgoorlie Super Pit operation, warning that throughput may stay uneven as it works toward a mill expansion set to start up in early FY27.
The company’s investor calendar sets the December-quarter earnings release for Thursday, Jan. 22, with half-year results scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12. 3
Gold closed the week weaker, slipping 0.5% to $4,592.29 an ounce late Friday. It had hit a record $4,642.72 earlier in the week but retreated on profit-taking and easing geopolitical tensions. “It’s a general retreat in the commodity complex after weeks of aggressive gains, with some profit-taking,” noted Marex analyst Edward Meir. 4
Physical markets in parts of Asia remain tight. “Gold remains at a modest premium, (which is surprising) bearing in mind that Asian demand is normally very price-sensitive,” said independent analyst Ross Norman, noting steadier buying ahead of China’s Lunar New Year. 5
In Australia, Northern Star typically moves alongside peers like Evolution Mining and Gold Road Resources whenever bullion shifts. The sector’s next move could hinge more on individual company results than on the metal itself.
That said, the situation is two-sided. Should Thursday’s report reveal a bigger jump in costs than anticipated—particularly in all-in sustaining costs, which cover sustaining capital and site overheads—the stock might falter despite strong gold prices.
Trading picks up again Monday, with Thursday’s quarterly report the key event. Investors will zero in on production figures, processing results, and any updates to full-year cost guidance. Attention then swiftly turns to the half-year numbers due Feb. 12.
