Here are the top five things you need to know in financial markets on Thursday, July 14:
1. JP Morgan to kick off bank earnings season
JP Morgan will be the first big bank to report second quarter (Q2) earnings on Thursday with the release expected at approximately 6:45AM ET, or 10:45AM GMT.
In what may set the tone for the financial sector’s Q2 earnings, consensus is currently predicting about a 2% decline in revenue to $23.94 billion with a larger drop in earnings-per-share (EPS) to $1.43 from last year’s $1.54.
The report will be followed by both Citigroup and Wells Fargo’s own numbers on Friday.
2. BoE rate decision on tap
The Bank of England (BoE) was set to announce its monetary policy decision at 11:00AM GMT, or 7:00AM ET, on Thursday.
Markets placed odds at 80% that the BoE would embark on a 25 basis point cut in the interest rate to new record low, its first reduction in seven years, in order to stabilize the British economy in the aftermath of the Brexit, as the U.K.’s decision to leave the European Union is known.
The pound pushed higher against the dollar on Thursday despite expectations for easing.
3. Global stocks mostly higher with eyes on BoE
Global stocks were mostly higher as political uncertainty in the U.K. began to fade and traders hoped for easing from the BoE.
Asian shares hovered near eight-month highs on Thursday as investors bet the BoE will cut interest rates to ward off the risk of recession following Britain's vote to leave the EU.
European stocks traded higher in morning trade on Thursday as the new British Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May took the U.K. helm preparing to deal with trade negotiations with the EU after the Britons decided to leave the bloc, removing some of the political uncertainty, and investors looked ahead to the BoE's policy decision.
U.S. futures also pointed to a higher open on Thursday, after both the Dow and S&P hit fresh record closing highs in the prior session. At 9:56AM GMT, or 5:56AM ET, the blue-chip Dow futures jumped 156 points, or 0.85%, S&P 500 futures rose 19 points, or 0.89%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures advanced 40 points, or 0.87%.
4. Yen sinks on Bernanke’s advice for helicopter money
The yen sank to a three-week low on Thursday amid reports that former Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke had raised the prospect of “perpetual bonds” for the Bank of Japan.
USD/JPY plowed through 1.05 and was last up 1.35% at 105.91 on the news.
5. Oil rebounds from 4% plunge
Oil prices regained ground in European trade on Thursday, after plunging more than 4% in the prior session after bearish U.S. inventory data heightened concerns about a global glut.
U.S. crude oil futures gained 1.14% to $45.26, at 9:58AM GMT, or 5:58AM ET, while Brent oil rose 1.10% to $46.77.