U.S. investors entered November facing a crowded calendar of corporate earnings, economic releases and the November 3 midterm elections. The immediate backdrop was a sharp Friday decline: the S&P 500 fell 1.8%, the Nasdaq Composite lost 2.9% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.1%, according to the Associated Press. Technology and artificial-intelligence shares led the retreat.
The selloff followed results from major technology companies that revived questions about how quickly heavy data-center and AI infrastructure spending can generate profits. Investors are now looking beyond headline revenue growth and asking companies to explain capital expenditure, cash flow, customer demand and expected returns.
Apple and Palantir are among the companies scheduled to report Monday, with AMD and other large firms due later in the week. The October employment report is also expected Friday. These events could either reassure investors that earnings and economic growth remain resilient or reinforce concerns about valuations and spending.
The week's market direction is not predetermined. Earnings guidance, labor-market data and election-related policy expectations may each move prices, and investors should distinguish reported results from forecasts and analyst expectations.
Source: Associated Press, November 2, 2026 — https://apnews.com/article/048328e49e47ce7afe6c1fb9d9acf13d
