US pre-open: Futures mixed as Q3 earnings season kicks off

13th Oct 2026 11:32

(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were pointing to a mixed open ahead of the bell on Tuesday as market participants strapped in for the begining of third-quarter earnings season.

As of 1245 BST, Dow Jones futures were up 0.17%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.11% and 0.66% lower, respectively.

The Dow closed 195.60 points higher on Monday as investors turned their attention to a heavy slate of earnings and fresh inflation data in the days ahead.

Tuesday's primary focus will undoubtedly be Q3 earnings from a number of the nation's largest banks, with JPMorgan Chase posted a rare setback in fixed‑income trading, with revenue down 4% year‑on‑year in Q3 - its first decline in more than two years - leaving total trading income at $10.3bn, slightly short of forecasts, while Wells Fargo also delivered mixed numbers, with Q3 earnings beating expectations at $1.87 a share but revenue undershooting at $21.87bn, even as net interest income and loan growth both rose.

Goldman Sachs and Citigroup were also scheduled to report earnings prior to the open.

Outside of the banks, Johnson & Johnson reported 5.9% sales growth to $25.4bn, lifting full‑year guidance as strong operational performance offset a one‑off charge tied to talc litigation and recent M&A, while UnitedHealth Group raised its profit outlook for the third time this year after Q3 earnings topped expectations, helped by lower‑than‑anticipated medical costs and Domino's Pizza posted higher profit and revenues, with Q3 earnings of $4.60 a share beating forecasts, although sales growth continued to slow despite stronger order volumes and higher franchise royalties.

On the macro front, the National Federation of Independent Business' small business optimism index slipped 0.8 points in September to 97.9, falling just below its long‑term average, while the uncertainty index edged up to 90, remaining well above historic norms. Labour quality and availability stayed the most‑cited problem for a third straight month, reported by 26% of owners, while inflation was the second‑largest concern, rising to 20% of respondents, far above its historical average. Expectations for better business conditions weakened again, with a net 6% of owners anticipating improvement over the next six months. Only 7% said it was a good time to expand, down sharply from August.

Still to come, September existing home sales numbers will be released at 1500 BST.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com