Earnings Report

After weeks of dispiriting talk about trade wars and the threat of inflation, Wall Street is looking forward to some good news: eye-popping profits from Corporate America.

Earnings season starts this week, and there is a lot riding on the outcome.

Stocks in the U.S. are rising Thursday morning and major indexes in Europe are jumping as global markets continue a rally that began late the previous day.

Samsung records a surprise 1Q profit.

Samsung Electronics says its first-quarter operating profit likely jumped 56 percent to a record high.

General Electric will reported restated results from 2016 and 2017 by April 13.

Lennar saw 1Q revenue jump due to an increase in home sales and higher prices.

U.S. stocks were broadly higher early Thursday on the last day of trading ahead of the Easter holiday weekend.

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday: PVH Corp., up $7.41 to $151.43

The company's latest quarter was helped by a $363 million gain due to the recently enacted U.S. tax law.

The major U.S. stock indexes were mostly higher in early trading Wednesday as gains by health care and consumer-goods companies offset losses elsewhere.

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday: Equifax Inc., up $2.62 to $119.04

Walgreens, which has been focusing on its pharmacy business in the face of falling retail sales, added more than 20 million members through its partnership with pharmacy benefit managers such as Minnesota-based Prime Therapeutics.

Lululemon, which is on the hunt for a new CEO after its former one resigned suddenly, reported strong financial results for its fourth quarter after a redesign of its website helped attract more shoppers.

Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Tuesday: GlaxoSmithKline PLC, up 96 cents to $38.39

Swedish low-cost fashion brand Hennes & Mauritz AB says its first-quarter profit plummeted 44 percent after it was forced to cut prices and make markdowns due to higher than expected garment inventories.

Nike reported a loss in its third quarter due to a $2 billion tax expense related to recent changes in the U.S. tax law.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) on Thursday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $217.8 million.

General Mills Inc. (GIS) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter profit of $941.4 million.

General Mills, like other U.S. packaged food companies, has been facing higher transportation costs as railroads and truck fleets have raised prices amid a shortage of drivers, reduced capacity, higher fuel prices and a strengthening U.S. economy.