US interest rate news to eclipse firms’ reports

THE British company reporting season goes into overdrive next week with a flood of high-profile firms announcing figures, but interest rate meetings on both sides of the Atlantic will monopolise investor attention.

Investors are likely to take in their stride results from big names such as British Airways, Marks & Spencer and BHP Billiton early in the week, waiting for decisions on interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday and the Bank of England on Thursday.

Jim Wood-Smith, equity analyst at brokers and investment manager Gerrard, said the rate decisions would lead shares in London.