Fed and BoE Announcements Loom Large as Major Companies Report Earnings

Next week will see significant announcements from two major central banks, the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England. The Fed is widely expected to keep its federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75%, according to ING.

The Bank of England's interest rate decision, meanwhile, is also anticipated to leave Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75%. Investors will be watching closely as these decisions can impact the broader markets and economy.

Several major companies are set to release their quarterly results, including pharma giants AstraZeneca and GSK, tech firms Microsoft and Meta, and consumer goods company Unilever.

AstraZeneca's first-half results will be released on Monday, followed by full-year results from Games Workshop, half-year results from Barclays, Unilever, and Unite Group, and second-quarter numbers from GSK.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, noted that Standard Chartered is an attractive prospect due to its concentration in Asian markets. Investors will be keen for a positive update from its trading unit, which could provide a springboard for further gains.