Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com

FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS SEASON ON TRACK TO BE STRONGEST IN FIVE YEARS, BOFA SAYS

First quarter earnings growth is on track for its strongest showing since 2021, according to Bank of America Global Research analysts.

Data shows that Q1 2026 earnings per share growth is tracking 26% - or 18% excluding one-time gains reported by Amazon AMZN.O, Meta Platforms META.O and Alphabet GOOGL.O - and 64% of companies beat EPS and sales expectations, the highest rate in five years, the analysts led by Savita Subramanian said in a note.

More than 90% of S&P 500 .SPX companies have already reported and the earnings season is nearing its end. Nvidia NVDA.O is set to report earnings after markets close on Wednesday.

"Although this level of growth is elevated relative to a 2.2% US real GDP growth backdrop (house view), we believe it is achievable, led by AI tailwinds and strength in commodity sectors," the analysts said.

(Chibuike Oguh)

*****

EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:

POTENTIAL HOME BUYERS HAVE NO BID FOR JUMP IN BORROWING COSTS CLICK HERE

U.S. STOCK INDEX FUTURES EDGE HIGHER AHEAD OF NVIDIA EARNINGS CLICK HERE

PRESSURE'S OFF? CLICK HERE

TWO HOPEFULS VIE FOR DAX 40 PRESTIGE CLICK HERE

EUROPEAN STOCKS FLAT, SEMIS RISE AHEAD OF NVIDIA RESULTS CLICK HERE

EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: INFLATION WORRIES PERSIST, NVIDIA LOOMS CLICK HERE

AS STOCKS SLUMP, CUE NVIDIA CLICK HERE