BUZZ-Australia's Insignia Financial eyes best month in 3 as bidding war escalates

** Shares of Insignia Financial IFL.AX fall 0.7% to A$4.46

** Still, stock of the wealth manager has climbed 25.9% so far in January, set for their best month since October 2024, if gains hold

** Shares hover around a three-year high touched last week

** Co has been the subject of a bidding war between U.S.-based Bain Capital and CC Capital Partners

** Last week, Bain Capital increased their offer for Insignia to $1.9 bln, matching rival CC Capital's revised offer

** Insignia received an initial $1.7 bln takeover offer from Bain in December, but CC Capital emerged as a rival bidder with an $1.8 bln bid in early January

** The offer was then subsequently increased till $1.9 bln by both parties during Jan

** IFL stock has gained 26.5% this year, as of last close