JPMorgan Chase and peer Wall Street banks opened third-quarter earnings season on October 13, 2026. Reporting since then attributes the rise in commercial lending to AI demand, while consumer credit and debit spending holds up on steady employment. The discussion has also turned to capital return: JPMorgan's buyback fell to $1 billion from $7 billion last quarter, against a $30 billion authorization. Later coverage adds a consumer read-through, with entertainment dollar volume up 13% year over year on 7% more transactions and Gen Z and millennials at 38% of Amex spending. Forward guidance still hinges on whether the Federal Reserve delivers another quarter-point rate increase before year end.