NEW YORK: U.S. companies are preparing to report third-quarter results following a rocky few months in which they grappled with a U.S.-China trade conflict undermining the business environment and an overall economy that has been showing signs of struggling.
Sector-wise, a rough quarter is expected for technology companies , whose shares have led the market's ascent this year but overall are seen posting a 7.6per cent drop in third-quarter earnings, with Micron Technology's results expected to be a particularly big drag on the group, according to Refinitiv.
An equal-weighted basket of companies impacted by the trade war, created by Barclays, has underperformed the S&P 500 since the end of the second quarter through Thursday.