ASX 200 ends week higher; coal miners gain as lithium stocks fall

ASX closes higher for a second week; coal miners rebound; ACCC concerns over NBN plan; refinancing hits $13.4bn; HSBC warns on housing and Potentia clarifies Nitro bid.

Signs of inflation easing in the world’s largest economy are likely to boost global equity investor sentiment. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Friday, January 13. The Australian sharemarket rose for a second consecutive week after slowing US inflation fuelled hopes the Federal Reserve will reduce its hawkish tone.

The S&P/ASX 200 index advanced by 47.70 points, or 0.7 per cent to 7328.10.

Wall Street is set to fall this evening with futures tied to the S&P 500 down 0.3 per cent, 0.2 per cent lower for Dow Jones and the Nasdaq could drop by 0.4 per cent. 

The dollar was near US69.60c at the close.