Looking Ahead: April 23 through April 27, 2012

Equities were mixed last week as investors monitored earnings reports, sovereign bond issues in Europe and mixed economic data from the U.S. and elsewhere. As is usually the case in the last week of the month, there will be a deluge of new economic data. Adding spice this time is a two day FOMC meeting followed by Chairman Ben Bernanke’s press conference. Investors will also be watching the outcome of the Bank of Japan meeting that takes place at week’s end. They will be watching to see what new easing policies the BoJ will announce to push the value of the yen down and inflation up. Peeks at first quarter growth data are on tap in the UK and U.S.