New Delhi, Nov. 9 -- As the earnings season begins to wind down, with just 11 S&P 500 companies - including Walt Disney and Cisco - set to report their quarterly financial results in the week ahead, investors will be closely monitoring Washington for any sign of progress to end the government shutdown.

Any movement in the US government shutdown negotiations will be watched intently as concerns mount over potential travel disruptions during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

The shutdown reached its 40th day on Sunday, even as senators held a weekend sitting in the hope of finding an end to the impasse that has disrupted domestic flights, threatened food aid for millions of Americans, and left federal civil servants unpaid.

Republican lea...