Business Lookahead: Behold the megacaps

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STORY: From a massive week for U.S. earnings reports, to a new man taking the stage at the Bank of Japan, these are the big business and finance stories to watch out for in the week ahead.

It’s another huge week for U.S. earnings.

Among the numbers to watch for are reports from three of the country’s four biggest firms by value – Microsoft, Amazon and Google-parent Alphabet.

Such megacap stocks have enjoyed an up year so far, as investors swing towards big companies seen as secure even if there’s another banking crisis.

New Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda chairs his first policy meeting at the end of the week.

Market are increasingly confident he’ll stick to an ultra-dovish stance.

Morgan Stanley analysts say the chance of surprise is just one-in-five.

Europe’s big lenders are due to report earnings too, with Deutsche Bank, Barclays and Santander among those to watch out for.

Just weeks after the emergency rescue of Credit Suisse, the numbers may help gauge the health of the sector.

European currencies have been climbing against the dollar on bets that rate cuts will come sooner in the U.S. than Europe.

FX traders will be watching for any hawkish words from policymakers at the European Central Bank that indicate it could keep hiking.

And the outlook for European stocks is on a knife-edge, as a resilient economy clashes with fears over stubborn inflation.

Economists will watch for first quarter euro zone GDP data on Tuesday.

Inflation reports for Germany and Spain may also signal which way prices are going.

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