First, after midday, the news from JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, for which analysts consulted by Reuters forecast solid figures, thanks to the increase in corporate operations and brokerage income.
Later, at 13:30 GMT, the expected U.S. CPI for December will be released, for which economists are forecasting that the underlying rate will remain unchanged at 3.3% year-on-year and that the general index will increase from 2.7% to 2.9%.
If the estimates are confirmed, investors will see a stronger case for the Federal Reserve (Fed) to hold back its hand at upcoming meetings, lowering interest rates this year much less than previously expected.
"We recall that, after last Friday's strong employment data, the market has moved to discount just 1 rate cut of 25 bps (basis points) by the Fed in 2025," said analysts at Renta 4 in their morning report.
"In fact, the Beige Book will be released today, which will serve to prepare for the 29-January meeting for which the market is discounting a pause in rate cuts in view of the strength of the latest macro data," they added.
Beyond Wednesday's trading day, financial markets will be looking ahead to figures from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley on Thursday, and Donald Trump's inauguration next Monday, while on the geopolitical front, hopes are rising for a deal to halt Israeli attacks in Gaza.
At 08:15 GMT on Wednesday, Spain's selective IBEX 35 stock index was up 23.90 points, or 0.20%, to 11,776.00 points, while the FTSE Eurofirst 300 index of large European stocks was up 0.19%.
In the banking sector, Santander rose 0.17%, BBVA fell 0.14%, Caixabank gave up 1.01%, Sabadell fell 0.53%, Bankinter dropped 0.88%, and Unicaja Banco lost 0.22%.
Among the large non-financial stocks, Telefónica gained 0.61%, Inditex advanced 0.04%, Iberdrola gained 0.46%, Cellnex gained 4.06%, and the oil company Repsol rose 0.47%.
(Information by Tomás Cobos; edition by Mireia Merino)
