EARNINGS ON THE RISE

After ending a year- long profits recession in the third quarter of 2016, profit growth is expected to rise sharply. S& P 500 earnings growth rate ( percent change): 2016 Q3 + 4.3%

2016 Q4 + 5.8%

2017 Q1 + 13.7%

2017 Q2 + 11.8%

NOTE All figures but 2016 Q3 are estimates