In updates so far, sales from Cartier jeweller Richemont CFR.S and British luxury brand Burberry BRBY.L missed expectations. By Joice Alves LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Europe's upcoming corporate earnings season is likely to show whether the renewed optimism about the economy that has buoyed equities in recent weeks is grounded in reality. Recent signs inflation could be softening, improved supply chains, revised global growth forecasts and the sudden easing of three years of COVID-19 restrictions in China have raised hopes the corporate downturn may not be as severe as feared just a few weeks ago.