The sense of trepidation before the August profit reporting season is palpable.Investors have got used to wild share price swings during these periods. But plenty of market watchers are predicting the next four weeks could be particularly crazy due to a combination of stale earnings forecasts from analysts, the potential for fragile economic conditions to throw up surprises and the now well-recognised influence of momentum trading, hedge funds, pod shops and passive investing flows on very short-term share price movements.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles