ASX 200 grinds 37 points higher ahead to 8347 (0.5%) of Trump’s inauguration. US markets closed tonight for Martin Luther King Day. Banks solid again with CBA up 0.8% and the Big Bank Basket up to $255.00 (0.7%). Financials were better, MQG up 1.9% and GQG better too. REITS higher, GMG up 0.6% and SCG up 1.4% with industrials also doing ok. WOW, COL and WES all solid, retail rallied, JBH up 3.0% and BAP up 2.3%. PMV eased off slightly with the vote this week, LOV gave back some of Friday’s gains. Tech a little muted with the All -Tech Index up 0.9%. Iron ore miners were better as Port Hedland reopened after the cyclone was downgraded, Singapore iron ore futures slightly better. BHP up 0.5% and RIO up 1.1%. Gold miners eased with NST down 2.6% and EVN down 1.1%. Lithium miners continue to find a few friends and short covering, PLS up 2.5% and IGO up 2.6% despite talking impairments at Kwinana. Energy stocks flat, PDN down 3.7% with DYL up 0.8% on a broker upgrade. In corporate news, IFL granted DD to CC, KAR was plugged and abandoned with a Who Dat well. SGR fell 17.9% on uncertainty unless it can find funding. INR jumped 20.6% on a US government loan. FND is up 25.0% on acquisition and update. In economic news, China left rates unchanged as expected. Asian markets better with Japan 1.2%, HK up 2.3% and CSI up 0.9% on hopes for a Trump visit to China. 10-year yields steady at 4.49%.

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