Third-Quarter Earnings Start This Week: Prepare for More Positive Surprises

A wave of third-quarter earnings begins this week, with investors bracing for stronger surprises. The commentary expects S&P 500 earnings to rise at least 33% into the late stage of the season. Financial stocks are set to kick things off later in the week, with attention on loan-loss reserves and potential increases tied to consumer defaults. Next week, other sectors are expected to follow after some leading tech companies already reported. Samsung Electronics’ third-quarter results stand out: profits surged 780.3% to $80.2 billion and sales jumped 126.6%. Upcoming inflation data (CPI and PPI) and crude oil price strength may also shape markets.