By Dhirendra Tripathi

Investing.com — While technology stocks gained on Wednesday due to falling U.S. bond yields, the broad fell off the cliff heading into the close bell. 

Better-than-expected earnings from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:)and Google’s Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:) set a positive tone. Apple and Amazon will report their results on Thursday. 

Alphabet’s third-quarter earnings beat was driven by strong performance in its digital advertising search business, which was less vulnerable to privacy changes Apple made recently that dinged Snap (NYSE:).

Microsoft raises its guidance for fourth quarter, after surpassing expectations regarding its cloud business. Twitter Inc However, (NYSE:) fell short of its expectations and the stock plummeted.

With oil prices falling from their highs, the pressure was on energy sectors. Oil major Royal Dutch Shell (LON:) PLC ADR (NYSE:) rose after reports that hedge fund activist Dan Loeb’s Third Point (NYSE:) had amassed a sizable stake in the shares and was pressing the company to break apart into a legacy carbon-based business and a growth-oriented renewable energy company.

Tomorrow’s reading will show the gross domestic product (GDP) for the 3rd quarter. These are the three factors that may impact markets.

1. Apple earnings

Apple Inc (NASDAQ) will release its fourth quarter numbers on Thursday. According to Investing.com, the iPhone-maker’s revenue is estimated to have reached $84.85. The profit per share will likely reach $1.23.

2 Amazon earnings

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:)’s third profit per share is seen at $8.91 on likely revenue of $111.62 billion. Analysts will be eager to hear the company’s outlook for the holiday season.

3. Earn Mastercard points

Mastercard Inc (NYSE:)’s third-quarter revenue is expected to come in at $4.95 billion, with EPS at $2.18.