More than a third of S&P 500 companies are about to report earnings as market confidence cracks

• 36% of S&P 500 companies, 179 firms, report Q3 earnings this week • Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft headline a pivotal week for market sentiment • Investors weigh AI trade sustainability, high gas prices and bond market jitters A pivotal week of third-quarter earnings begins Monday, giving corporate America a chance to calm jittery markets. FactSet data shows about 36% of S&P 500 companies — 179 in total — report results this week, led by Amazon.com, Alphabet and Microsoft, stocks the index has relied on for gains. Investors remain uneasy about several issues: whether the artificial-intelligence trade is sustainable, elevated gas prices, and tremors in the bond market.