The ASX 200 jumped 96 points to close at 8796 (1.1%) on a six-week high as Santa seems to have found his plug-in charger. Yesterday was all about the miners, today was all about the banks. CBA rose 2.2% with NAB up 0.9% and the Big Bank Basket back up to $280.18 (1.7%). RBA minutes suggested rate rises and an economy that is doing ok. Maybe too ok. Other financials also did well with MQG up 1.6% and insurers pushing ahead. QBE up 2.0% and SUN up 1.4%. REITs were stars with GMG running hot, up 8.3%, on a $14bn data centre deal, VCX rose 0.8%. Industrials were firm with WES up 1.5% and NCK still feeling loved up 2.8%. ALL rose 1.2% and TAH rallied 1.0% after Macquarie revealed a 5% stake. Tech stocks started to stir at last, WTC up 2.3% and 360 up a modest 2.2%. NXT rose 1.2% and ELS did well up 3.6%.

Resources took a bit of a breather despite gold flying, BHP up 1.1% with FMG down 0.4% and the gold miners mixed. NEM up 1.2% and NST fell 0.6%. Lithium stocks remain in favour, LTR up 3.2%. Uranium stocks steady and oil and gas stocks positive, WDS up 1.2% and STO up 0.7% on higher crude prices.

In corporate news, SWM unchanged as the merger with SXL was approved. CMM fell 1.8% after agreeing to acquire a project from Tempest Minerals. RHC was 2.9% better, on news to acquire National Capital Private Hospitals in Canberra.

On the economic front, RBA Minutes out today. The board has less confidence in its previous assessment that monetary policy is restricting the economy, and that interest rate rises will be considered next year if higher inflation persists. Monthly inflation numbers remain volatile.

Asian markets were firm. Japan up 0.3%, China up 0.3% and HK unchanged.

US futures – DJ down 49 Nasdaq down 8

10-year yields eases to 4.76%.

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