Highlights: Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 2.75% in December with strong returns across Utilities, Materials, Property, and Financials ex Property. Nonfarm payrolls rose 199,000 in December, well below of expectations of a 400,000 increase. European annual inflation rose to 5.2% amid increasing energy costs. The RBA kept the cash rate on hold at 0.1% and…