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By Nichiket Sunil

Jan 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares cut early gains on Monday to close slightly higher, as losses in miners and gold stocks countered gains in financials, while investors awaited inflation data for further clues on the monetary policy trajectory.

The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended 0.1% higher at 8,257.4, after hitting its highest since Dec. 19 earlier in the day.

The monthly inflation report, due on Wednesday, will help refine forecasts for the whole fourth quarter, which could be crucial in deciding whether the Reserve Bank of Australia cuts rates in February.

Insignia Financial IFL.AX led gains in index heavyweight financials, rising 14.7% after the money manager revealed a A$2.9 billion takeover bid from U.S.-based CC Capital Partners, eclipsing a A$2.67 billion offer from Bain Capital.

Financials .AXFJ rose 0.5% for the day, with National Australia Bank NAB.AX, Westpac WBC.AX, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX up between 0.2% and 0.8%.

Miners .AXMM fell 1.4% as iron ore futures hit a more than one-month low, weighed down by slower production of hot metal in China. IRONORE/

Sector heavyweights BHP Group BHP.AX, Rio Tinto RIO.AX and Fortescue FMG.AX ended the day 1.7% to 2.0% lower.

Meanwhile, uranium miners Paladin Energy PDN.AX, Boss Energy BOE.AX and Deep Yellow DYL.AX extended gains from last week, supported by expectation of tight supply after Cameco CCO.TO suspended production at its Inkai joint venture with Kazatomprom KZAP.KZ in Kazakhstan.

The suspension places greater supply-side pressure at a time when demand is expected to increase by around 28% to 2030, said Grady Wulff, a market analyst at Bell Direct.

Gold stocks .AXGD closed 0.6% lower, with Northern Star Resources NST.AX falling 0.6%.

Bullion prices were steady as investors awaited a slew of U.S. data for further guidance on the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates. GOL/

Energy stocks .AXEJ gained for the ninth session, as oil prices hovered at their highest since October. Woodside Energy WDS.AX rose 1.2%. O/R

In New Zealand, the benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 ended largely flat.

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com;))

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