Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday:

NAB – NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK – up eight cents, or 0.24 per cent, at $33.42

The chief executive of National Australia Bank’s UK subsidiary, Clydesdale, has stood down after almost four years in the job.

OGC – OceanaGold Corp – up 11.0 cents, or 4.78 per cent, at $2.41

EVN – Evolution Mining – up six cents, or 8.11 per cent, at 80.0 cents

NST – Northern Star – up four cents, or 2.4 per cent, at $1.71

Most gold stocks moved higher after prices for the precious metal hit a three-week high during the offshore session on Wednesday as investors rattled by oil price falls sought out safer investments.

QAN – QANTAS AIRWAYS – down five cents, or 1.92 per cent, at $2.56

Qantas has been named the world’s safest airline, after a year when fatal air accidents soared above the 10-year average.