End of Day Report – Monday 12 January: ASX 200 jumps 42 points | Banks and gold miners

ASX 200 kicked off the week with a 42-point rise to 8759 (0.5%) as banks pushed higher. CBA up 0.6% and the Big Bank Basket up to $269.67 (%). Some flight to safety as the US administration moves against Jerome Powell. Insurers slipped on recent weather events, QBE down 1.4% and IAG off 3.6%. REITs were mixed, GMG up 0.4% and VCX slipping 0.7%. Industrials firm, WOW up 0.8% and COL up 2.4% despite price gouging inquiries in the wind. WES rallied 1.4% and TLS up 0.4%. The tech sector was slightly firmer with TNE up 0.9% and the All-Tech Index rose 0.4%. In resources, the big three iron ore miners slipped with BHP down 2.5% and FMG off 1.4% on some downgrades and fears of another Anglo bid from BHP. Gold miners rallied hard as gold hit record highs, NEM up 5.8% and GMD up 2.6%. Lithium also firm, PLS continuing higher, and uranium stocks slightly better. Oil and gas majors better as crude rises. In corporate news, DMP rose 3.1% on a new Australian CEO, RPL rose 4.7% on a trading update. CUV also up 1.4% on a new preclinical study. SUL dropped 5.3% On the economic front, November household spending rose 1%. More than expected.Asian markets firmed, Japan closed for another holiday and US futures down on the Powell news.Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you. If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.  Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.