The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that investors are setting a high bar for bank profits after share prices soared this year, and analysts expect lenders to meet those expectations bolstered by strong capital markets activity and rising loan demand. The Globe's Stefanie Marotta writes that the banks have surged 24 per cent this year in the lead-up to posting third-quarter results this week as the lenders withstood mounting concerns over trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. The group outperformed the S&P/TSX Composite Index's 14.6-per-cent climb and the 13.6-per-cent jump of the KBW Bank Index, which tracks U.S. lenders. Analysts estimate earnings-per-share could increase about 15 per cent year-over-year. While generally optimistic, Scotiabank analyst Mike Rizvanovic said in a note, "Current elevated valuations remain a concern for investors heading into the quarter, suggesting a very high bar on results to get share prices moving meaningfully." With rich valuations in share prices, some analysts are watching for renewed interest in acquisitions. "The M&A question looms," National Bank's Gabriel Dechaine said. On Tuesday, Scotia and BMO report earnings for the three months ended July 30.