[Fed minutes and earnings season ahead, S&P 500 approaches record high] Golden Finance reports that the S&P 500 is expected to hit a new high, and now the market's attention is turning to the start of earnings season. The third-quarter earnings season will officially begin on Friday, when several of the largest banks will announce their results. Investors have been largely optimistic recently, with strong economic data offsetting the rising tensions in the Middle East and the uncertainty of the US election. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 approached a record high, driven by technology stocks. Soon, the Federal Reserve will release the minutes of its September meeting, in which the Fed boldly cut interest rates by 50 basis points, kicking off its rate cut campaign. But the decision was not unanimous, the first time since 2005 that the Federal Reserve board members have dissented.