Friday preview: IAG, NatWest results in focus; BOJ announcement due

30th Jul 2026 14:41

(Sharecast News) - On Friday, investors will eye the latest policy announcement from the Bank of Japan as well as results from BA and Iberia owner IAG, NatWest and Chevron.

Also on the UK corporate front, interim results from ITV will be in focus, along with half-year results from housebuilder Taylor Wimpey, Intertek, Rightmove, IG Group, IMI, Melrose and Pearson.

In the US, quarterly results from AbbVie and Colgate-Palmolive will also be out, while in Europe, Q2 numbers from Credit Agricole and Puma will be released.

ING said the Bank of Japan is expected to keep rates unchanged after last month's 25 basis points hike to 1.00%.

"While some see scope for a faster tightening cycle and an October hike, we doubt any modest hawkish shift will materially boost the yen or alter the USD/JPY outlook," it said.

ING said there could be some interest in the voting patterns. "Governor Kazuo Ueda is expected to return after a recent illness, bringing the Policy Board back to nine," it said.

"The focus will be on whether any of the board members will vote for back-to-back hikes. Kajime Nakata did so in January this year and could be a candidate to do so again this week. A bigger surprise would be whether the other two hawks, Junko Nakagawa and Naoki Tamura, join him."