BoJ to unveil monetary policy decision today. Armed with the nation’s first back-to-back quarterly expansion since 2013, the Bank of Japan’s policy board will be wrapping up its two-day meeting today and is scheduled to release their policy decision at noon. Analysts expect the central bank to remain neutral although it has been said that Governor Kuroda, who will be giving a press conference right after the release, likes to surprise. Bloomberg
Jobless claims drops in the U.S. The average number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the last four weeks has dropped to 266,250, a 15-year low. Score one for the economy. Bloomberg.
Asian futures point to another solid trading day. Following the S&P’s record rise, futures on Asian equity indices all rose with the Nikkei slated to hit new highs at the opening. In its latest trading, the Nikkei eked out a 0.2% gain, a 2.4% climb for the week. Meanwhile, contracts on the Hang Seng and the China Enterprises Index rose 0.2% and 0.4% respectively. Bloomberg
Hong Kong’s Goldin plunges. Goldin, a horse breeding, wine, and finance conglomerate, suffered a devastating blow, losing more than $16 billion in a massive sell-off. Investors are looking with caution at Hong Kong businesses as the Goldin fall comes just one day after Hanergy’s similar drop. Financial Times (paywall)
Baltimore cops will face trial. A Baltimore grand jury has indicted the six police officers charged in the arrest, and subsequent death, of young, African-American man Freddie Gray. Gray died April 19 while in police custody. New York Times (paywall)
Chinese banks are flushing money into Petrobras. The market won’t touch Brazilian state oil mammoth Petrobras with a ten-foot-poll, but China is eagerly loaning the world’s most indebted company $10 billion. Consider the move a geopolitical muscle flex. Quartz
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