BOJ to Hold Rates, Major Companies Report Quarterly Numbers
This Friday, investors will be focused on several key announcements and results from major companies. The Bank of Japan is set to release its latest policy update, with ING predicting that interest rates will remain unchanged at 1.00% after a recent hike.
One aspect of the BOJ announcement that could attract attention is the voting patterns among the Policy Board members. Governor Kazuo Ueda's return from illness brings the board back to nine members, and investors may be interested in seeing if any of them will vote for back-to-back hikes.
In terms of company results, IAG, NatWest, Chevron, AbbVie, Colgate-Palmolive, Credit Agricole, Puma, ITV, Taylor Wimpey, Intertek, Rightmove, IG Group, IMI, Melrose, and Pearson will all be releasing their quarterly or half-year numbers. These include some of the UK's biggest companies in the airline, banking, and construction sectors.