Corporate Earnings Poised for Smallest Gain in 2 Years in U.S.

Bloomberg reports:

U.S. corporations are set to report the slowest earnings gain since the recession ended as companies from Ford Motor Co. (F) to McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) struggled with rising oil and commodity prices and a slowdown in consumer confidence that may continue to hamper spending this year.

Earnings per share for all Standard & Poor’s 500 Index companies rose 13 percent in the second quarter, according to analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Profits gained 18 percent in the first quarter after jumping 37 percent in 2010.