The sell-off in equities deepened on Thursday, helping to confirm a top in the index, but all is not lost. The S&P 500 is still showing support at the short-term 30-day moving average, where it may be able to stage a comeback. The catalyst that could do it is earnings and economic data due next week. The Q4 earnings reporting season hits high gear next week and brings reports from Microsoft, Verizon and Johnson & Johnson, all bellwethers for their respective industries.

The economic calendar is also full next week, but the only report that matters comes out on Friday, and that is the PCE price index. The index should confirm a peak in inflation, and it may fall more than expected. The risk for the market is that inflation may subside but not brighten the outlook for 2023 and cap any gains that may form. The takeaway is the consensus figures for forward S&P 500 figures are more important than ever.