A rally in global equity markets lifted stocks in Europe to record highs on Friday amid strong corporate earnings and hopes central bank interest rate cuts are near, while the dollar edged higher despite signs of slowing U.S. economic growth. European shares posted their biggest weekly gain since late January, with the pan-regional STOXX 600 index rising for a sixth straight session, while the FTSE 100 in London hit yet another record high. U.S. equity markets took comfort from earning season as corporate results in aggregate beat expectations, said Dec Mullarkey, managing director of investment strategy and asset allocation at SLC Management in Boston.
The Bank of England made “persistent and systematic” errors in its forecasts about inflation, one of its policymakers has said.
Earnings preview of key companies reporting next week and what to look out for.