Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) shares are having a tough finish to the week.
In morning trade, the ASX 300 gold stock is down 10% to $1.04.
Why is this ASX 300 gold stock sinking today?
There are a couple of reasons why this gold miner's shares are falling on Friday.
The first is a pullback in the gold price overnight, which saw the precious metal retreat below US$4,000 an ounce.
Traders were selling gold after risk sentiment improved following news that Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza.
This has led to the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index tumbling by a sizeable 4% at the time of writing.
What else?
Also weighing on the ASX 300 gold stock has been the release of a production update before the market open.
According to the release, Alkane Resources produced 36,407 ounces of gold equivalent over the period from 1 July to 30 September.
Management notes that this period included the expected slower production at Bjorkdal over the Swedish extended summer vacation period.
It seems that some investors were expecting a stronger performance and are fearful that this could mean the ASX 300 gold stock falls short of its guidance. Particularly given that 36,407 ounces is run-rating to approximately 145,000 ounces across FY 2026.
Whereas management continues to guide to FY 2026 group production of 160,000 ounces to 175,000 ounces with an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,600 to A$2,900 per ounce.
At the end of the quarter, Alkane Resources had a cash, bullion and listed investment balance of A$191 million. This comprises cash of $160 million, bullion of $14 million, and listed investments of $17 million.
It is also worth noting that this is after the repayment of a A$45 million debt facility and one-off transaction costs of A$25 million from the merger with Mandalay Resources.
The gold miner's managing director, Nic Earner, was pleased with the "significant quarter." He said:
It has been a significant quarter with the merger with Mandalay completing in early August. Alkane now has three operating mines who together produced 35,527 ounces of gold and 198 tonnes of antimony (36,407 ounces of gold equivalent) over the full quarter. With the repayment of our A$45 million debt and the one-off transaction costs of A$25 million behind us we have a very solid balance sheet with A$191 million in cash, bullion and listed investments at quarter end.
Despite today's weakness, Alkane Resources shares are up 125% since this time last year.
