Among the earnings stories for Tuesday, Nov. 17, from AP Financial News:

Stocks declined Tuesday, led by retailers, after weak outlooks from Home Depot and Target. Plus, investors were parsing a slew of Fed comments.

Stocks declined Tuesday, led by retailers, after weak outlooks from Home Depot and Target. Plus, investors were parsing a slew of Fed comments.

Stocks declined Tuesday as investors digested a slew of Fed statements. Disappointing comments from Home Depot and a rebound in the dollar weighed on the market.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Off-price retailer TJX Cos Inc <TJX.N> reported a higher-than-expected profit in the third quarter as cash-strapped consumers continued to flock to its stores for lower-cost apparel and home goods.

TJX Cos. Inc. says its fiscal third-quarter profit rose 32 percent as shoppers looked for bargains at the discount retailer's chains.

U.S. stock index futures headed for a lower open Tuesday, after ending sharply higher in the previous season, as European stocks led the declines and added to the negative sentiment.

What follows is a roundup of corporate earnings reports for Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Improved retail sales gave Wall Street a boost Monday but provided little hope for a robust holiday shopping season that might invigorate the economic recovery.

Discount retail operator TJX Cos. reports results for the third quarter on Tuesday before the market opens. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Retail sales likely rose in October with part of the strength coming from a rebound in auto sales. Even with a gain, economists worry that consumer spending, the critical ingredient for overall economic growth, could falter in the months ahead.

There's a tug of war in the financial markets between investors who believe the economy is on its way to a strong recovery and those who believe a rebound is likely to be slow and bumpy.

Deal-craving shoppers helped a trio of prominent U.S. retailers report Tuesday that their third quarter managed to improve this year.

Consumers borrowed less for a record eighth straight month in September amid rising unemployment and tight credit conditions.

U.S. retailers are expected to post positive October sales results this week, but investors hoping for a clear signal on economic recovery could be in for disappointment.