Bank earnings: Goldman Sachs is the biggest name on the earnings calendar today. The investment bank is expected to report $10.11 per share in adjusted earnings, compared with $9.68 per share in the third quarter last year. Results published on Thursday showed that rivals Citigroup and Morgan Stanley benefited from a dealmaking wave that boosted revenues.

Retail sales: Economists believe that consumers pulled back their spending in September, estimating a 0.2 per cent decline in retail sales compared with the month before. Sales rose 0.7 per cent in August as back-to-school shopping fuelled spending. Supply chain logjams and rising prices have dimmed the outlook for consumer spending heading into the holiday season. Still, retailers anticipate strong demand.

Consumer sentiment: Investors will get another look at the health of the consumer with the University of Michigan’s latest survey. Covid-19 worries dragged consumer sentiment to a 10-year low in August, and the index mounted a modest rebound last month. However, consumers predicted the worst long-term economic prospects in more than a decade, as inflationary pressure continued to build. Economists forecast that consumer sentiment edged higher to 73.1 in early October. The survey posted a final reading of 72.8 for September.

Booster shots: Scientific advisers to the Food and Drug Administration are expected to vote on Johnson & Johnson’s application to provide Covid-19 booster shots. They recommended on Thursday that the agency authorise a third dose of Moderna’s vaccine for people considered at high-risk of severe illness, including those over 65 years old.