REUTERS: Wall Street was on course to open close to record highs on Wednesday as investors digested a corporate earnings season that has seen the bulk of U.S.-listed firms best analysts' expectations, funding another round of stock market gains.
Of the 383 S&P 500 companies to have reported third-quarter results so far, nearly three quarters have beaten profit expectations, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. At 07:29 a.m. ET, Dow e-minis were up just 27 points, or 0.1per cent. S&P 500 e-minis were up 2.75 points, or 0.09per cent and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were up 7.25 points, or 0.09per cent.Humana Inc rose 3.9per cent as the health insurer reported quarterly profit that beat estimates on higher sales of its government-backed Medicare Advantage health plans, and raised its full-year earnings forecast.