The ASX 200 was up 0.59% today after a flat start to the week.

Both US and EU stocks rose after US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated the central banks efforts to corral inflation before the Senate Banking Committee.

Powell says he expects high inflation to last “well into the middle of the year,” and the Fed could raise rates more over time if price pressures persist longer than expected.

The bank has made no decisions about shrinking its balance sheet, with Powell adding that “it’s a long road to normal” for monetary policy. He was also optimistic that supply-chain bottlenecks would ease this year to help bring down inflation.

By sector, ASX 200 Energy stocks were ahead of the pack, with the sector up 2.73% and Santos (ASX:STO) up 3.19% and Woodside (ASX:WPL) up 4.10%.

The IT and Comms sector also rose 1.98% and 1.55% respectively, with materials – the big miners – up 1.04%.

 

BIG CAP WINNERS 

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Code Company Price % Volume
CXO Core Lithium 0.7875 13.3% 40,527,432
BRN Brainchip Ltd 1.2 11.1% 40,243,193
AVZ AVZ Minerals Ltd 0.97 10.2% 39,091,672
CTT Cettire 3.43 7.9% 299,713
NIC Nickel Mines Limited 1.565 7.6% 12,130,021
360 Life360 Inc. 8.6 6.4% 848,616
LTR Liontown Resources 1.64 5.8% 24,408,098
IMU Imugene Limited 0.37 5.7% 14,767,551
ABR American Pacific 2.73 5.4% 1,084,949
BPT Beach Energy Limited 1.38 5.3% 10,710,441
APX Appen Limited 10.3 5.2% 542,303
TPG TPG Telecom Limited 6.14 5.0% 4,455,816
APT Afterpay Limited 77.04 4.8% 1,360,545
LOV Lovisa Holdings Ltd 18.25 4.5% 204,974
WPL Woodside Petroleum 24.36 4.1% 3,114,233
KAR Karoon Energy Ltd 1.96 4.0% 2,742,473
AKE Allkem Limited 11.31 4.0% 2,608,984
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Top of the large caps leader board was Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR) who’s Kathleen Valley lithium deposit has secured a major offtaker in Korean electronics giant LG.

The project will produce around 500,000tpa of spodumene concentrate in its first stage, with LG set to buy 100,000dmt of spodumene in the first year of a five-year deal in 2024, rising to 150,000dmt per year for the remainder of the deal – which has an option for another five-year term.

“Having a customer of the calibre and standing of LGES endorse the project, by signing up to become a foundation customer, represents a significant vote of confidence in Kathleen Valley and in Liontown’s ambition to become a globally significant provider of battery materials for the clean energy market,” Managing director and CEO Tony Ottaviano said.

The deal represents around a third of Kathleen Valley’s start-up capacity, which is expected to increase to ~700,000tpa after a second stage expansion a few years after operations begin.

Also among the leaders was Afterpay (ASX:AKE) who secured approval from pesky Spanish regulators for its takeover by Jack Dorsey-led Block Inc.

The Scheme for the Block Inc transaction “is fully unconditional and will be implemented without the need for further shareholder or Court approval, in accordance with the implementation timetable”, APT said.

The scheme will be implemented on February 1, with the merged entity — which includes Block CDIs that will trade on the ASX — set to commence trading on February 2.

 

BIG CAP LOSERS 

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Code Company Price % Volume
AEF Australian Ethical 11.09 -8% 386,981
DMP Domino Pizza Enterpr 107.07 -5% 296,813
CEN Contact Energy Ltd 7.29 -4% 10,932
REH Reece Limited 25.2 -4% 449,121
OCL Objective Corp 16.8 -2% 90,726
DXS Dexus 10.71 -2% 2,659,334
VSL Vulcan Steel 9.49 -2% 39,123
CKF Collins Foods Ltd 12.04 -2% 411,191
MTS Metcash Limited 4.18 -2% 3,760,308
MFG Magellan Fin Grp Ltd 20.71 -2% 1,267,247
PSI Psc Insurance Ltd 4.71 -2% 15,851
MPL Medibank Private Ltd 3.5 -1% 3,916,244
ABC Adbri Limited 2.83 -1% 659,315
SNZ Summerset Grp Hldgs 12.73 -1% 212
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