As it happened: ASX ignores Capitol turmoil, gains 1.6% on Blue Wave

Summary

• The ASX 200 jumped by 1.6% on Thursday to 6712.0 as investors cheered the prospect of heftier stimulus support in the US, ignoring earlier turmoil at the US Capitol building
• The dual Democrat Senate victory in Georgia and a buoyant US futures market helped push the local bourse to a pre-Christmas high, with investors rushing to price in the Democrats' wall-to-wall control in Washington
• The three major iron ore miners each soared to new highs on Thursday. BHP rose 6.1% to $46.90, Rio Tinto added 8.6% to $125.66, and Fortescue Metals closed 3.5% ahead at $25.92.  
• The banks were also booming. CBA added 2% to $84.58, NAB rose 2.8% to $23.04, Westpac finished 3.2% ahead at $19.99 and ANZ climbed 3.8% to $23.64