Plus, the energy reporting diary on Friday is dominated by Chevron, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies.

(AI Video Summary)

UK consumer confidence data and BOJ interest rate decision

Angeline Ong previews the financial outlook for Friday, 26 April, highlighting the UK's slightly improved consumer confidence and the anticipated impact of the Bank of Japan's interest rate decision and quarterly outlook on the USD/JPY pair, nearing a key psychological level. She also touches on weaker than expected US GDP affecting the US dollar and stock indices, with Fed rate cut expectations possibly diminishing.

Oil markets

Ong notes a stable situation in oil markets despite geopolitical tensions, and ahead of corporate earnings, including NatWest's positive performance trends and major energy firms' strategic divergences in investments. She also briefly mentions corporate earnings from Colgate-Palmolive and AbbVie, emphasising the significant influence of upcoming financial data and corporate earnings on market sentiments and trading strategies.