Wall St Week Ahead Investors look to earnings to support record-high stock prices

A high-stakes corporate earnings season kicks into gear next week, with bullish investors hoping results will justify increasingly rich valuations in a U.S. stock market near record highs.

The case for strong U.S. economic growth got a boost on Friday, after labor market data came in far above expectations. The S&P 500 is up 20 per cent year-to-date and stands near record highs despite recent tumult spurred by rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

A key test...