If the market is going to be able to trade higher this earnings season, the percentage of companies beating earnings estimates needs to be equal to or higher than the 62% reading we saw last quarter.  The market did well during the last earnings season because the earnings beat rate finally saw a quarter over quarter increase.  Prior to the 62% reading, the number had gone down every quarter since the second quarter of 2007 when the bear market started.  It's going to be hard to top 62% because analysts have been raising earnings estimates instead of cutting them this quarter. 

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