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Big Tech in focus, Fed day and delta variant delivers reality check.

Big Tech reported double-digit growth again amid skepticism about the sustainability of earnings ahead. Three of the world’s largest companies -- Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc. -- posted about $57 billion in combined profit in a record-busting quarter, riding a resurgence in consumer and business spending. Apple shares were lower in pre-market trading though after the firm warned sales growth may be slowing and supplies are getting tight, putting a damper on investor excitement following a record-setting third quarter. Google meanwhile delivered turbocharged sales growth thanks to an advertising surge in the pandemic. Microsoft beat on sales and profit for a 10th straight quarter, despite continued fears of slowing growth in the software giant’s Azure cloud-computing business.