Python-3.6.0.a2 (a2 == 162)

root@x064:[/data/prj/python/python-3.6.0.162]xlc  -DNDEBUG -O -I/opt/include -qmaxmem=-1 -qarch=pwr4 -O3 -I/opt/buildaix/includes -O     -I. -IInclude -I./Include -I/opt/include -I/opt/buildaix/inclu
de   -DPy_BUILD_CORE  -I./Modules/_io -c ./Modules/_io/_iomodule.c -o Modules/_iomodule.o
root@x064:[/data/prj/python/python-3.6.0.162]
** Notice no messges - while:

root@x064:[/data/prj/python/python-3.6.0.177]xlc  -DNDEBUG -O -I/opt/include -qmaxmem=-1 -qarch=pwr4 -O3 -I/opt/buildaix/includes -O     -I. -IInclude -I./Include -I/opt/include ->
"./Modules/_io/_iomodule.h", line 156.2: 1506-766 (S) The universal character name "
" is not in the allowable range for an identifier.
"./Modules/_io/_iomodule.c", line 804.2: 1506-198 (S) #if, #else, #elif, #ifdef, #ifndef block must be ended with #endif.
root@x064:[/data/prj/python/python-3.6.0.177]

Looks to be a simple typo on line 156 - #endif^L is not seen as #endif by XLC.

  +154  #ifdef MS_WINDOWS
  +155  extern char _PyIO_get_console_type(PyObject *);
  +156  #endif^L

Once I remove the "formfeed" character, as is well again.

New changeset 26c73ee77fbb by Christian Heimes in branch '3.6':
Issue #28277: remove linefeed character from iomodule.h. Patch by Michael Felt
https://hg.python.org/cpython/rev/26c73ee77fbb

New changeset b77bd401f08a by Christian Heimes in branch 'default':
Issue #28277: remove linefeed character from iomodule.h. Patch by Michael Felt
https://hg.python.org/cpython/rev/b77bd401f08a

Michael, does the fix work for you?

yes. It is what I did manually. Thanks!