Fed policy, blue-chip earnings in focus after rocky week

HOPES of accommodative central bank policies have been a key needle mover in global equity markets since June, dictating sentiment in the face of US-China trade tensions.

With that in mind, the US Federal Reserve's policy decision on Wednesday will be the week's main event, where investors are taking a rate cut of 25 basis points as a given, with further easing from September.

If cuts meet expectations, "it will inaugurate the beginning of a new Fed easing cycle but anything other will trigger an aggressive symmetrical response across a swath of risk assets", Vanguard markets managing partner Stephen Innes said.

The Fed's decision is sandwiched by those of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Tuesday, and the Bank of England (BOE) …