ASX 200 live: Star in urgent cash talks; Bain sweetens Insignia bid; Myer, Premier tank on weak sales

Insignia considering $4.30 per share bid by Bain 'in parallel' with CC Capital offer. Weak sales updates from Myer, Premier weigh. Energy players gain on high prices. Low AUD threatens rate cuts. Star steady at 11c amid crisis cash talks.

Economic data will underpin local equity investor sentiment this week.Picture: Damian Shaw

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Monday, January 13. The ASX 200 index is down 0.8 per cent to 8225.80 points at 11.30am AEDT with banks and tech stocks leading falls.  Energy producers are higher, while the miners are treading water.

Wall Street's major indexes - the S&P 500, technology-focused Nasdaq and the Dow Jones - all closed more than 1.5 per cent lower on Friday after strong jobs data ruled out a January rate cut by the US Federal Reserve.

Cryptocurrency market leader bitcoin is currently above US$94,000.

The Aussie dollar is trading near US61.54c as its depreciation to a near-five year low poses a fresh inflation risk for the Reserve Bank.

Originally published as ASX 200 live: Star in urgent cash talks; Bain sweetens Insignia bid; Myer, Premier tank on weak sales