Coming Week: Hustle and Bustle

The biggest name will be after the market closes, when Dow component Intel(INTC Quote) reports. According to Thomson First Call, analysts expect the chip giant to post fourth-quarter earnings of 25 cents a share, down from 40 cents a year ago, on revenue of $9.45 billion. Intel's own projections called for revenue of $9.1 billion to $9.7 billion.

Wednesday's highlights include releases from Lennar(LEN Quote), Southwest Airlines(LUV Quote) and Washington Mutual(WM Quote).

Apple(AAPL Quote), fresh off news of its pending iPhone, is on tap to report earnings Wednesday afternoon. Analysts are looking for the tech giant to post a profit of 78 cents a share, up from 65 cents last year, and sales of $6.42 billion.

Among some of the notable names on Thursday's earnings docket are Continental Airlines(CAL Quote), Merrill Lynch(MER Quote) and UnitedHealth(UNH Quote).

Friday will see three heavy hitters step to the plate: GE(GE Quote), Citigroup(C Quote) and Motorola(MOT Quote). GE recently backed its projections for 2006, while cellphone giant Motorola warned earlier this month.

Inflation Nation?

The week's string of economic releases starts Tuesday with the January New York Empire State Index. Economists are looking for a reading of 20, down from 23.1 the prior month.

Wednesday will bring several economic reports, including the December producer price index. Economists anticipate an increase of 0.6%, down from 2% growth a month earlier. Excluding food and energy, the so-called core PPI is expected to rise 0.1%, compared with 1.3% growth in November.

December capacity utilization figures also arrive Wednesday morning. Economists predict the number will remain unchanged from the prior month at 81.8%. Meanwhile, industrial production for December is estimated to have climbed 0.1% after 0.2% growth in November.

Rounding out Wednesday's economic schedule are net foreign purchases for November, the Fed's beige book and speeches from regional Fed Presidents Janet Yellen and William Poole on the economy.

More inflation data hits the market on Thursday, with the December CPI. Economists predict the index will rise by 0.5%, compared with a flat reading in November. The consensus estimate for the core CPI is an increase of 0.2% in December, after a flat reading the prior month.

The inflation number, viewed as important data for the Fed's policymaking, will come on the day Chairman Ben Bernanke will be speaking before the Senate Banking Committee.

Also scheduled for Thursday are December's housing starts figures. Economists are looking for a rate of 1.575 million starts on an annualized basis, compared with 1.59 million in November. Building permits for December are expected to remain relatively unchanged at a rate of 1.51 million.

The January Philadelphia Fed survey also is on tap for Thursday, and the index is expected to come in at 3, up from a reading of negative 4.3 in December.

Friday's lone economic release will be the preliminary Michigan consumer sentiment, which is forecast to come in at 92, up from 91.7 the prior month.

1 What would best describe your stance heading into the coming week of trading? Bullish Bearish Neutral 2 Which of these sectors do you think is set to move up in the coming week? --Choose One--Aerospace and DefenseAirlinesAutomobilesBeverages and Food ProductsBiotechnologyCommercial BanksComputers and PeripheralsConsumer NondurablesEnergy Equipment & ServicesHMOs and HospitalsHomebuildingInsuranceIntegrated OilInternet, Software ServicesInvestment Bankers and BrokersMediaMultiline RetailPharmaceuticalsPrecious MetalsSemis, Semi EquipmentTelecom EquipmentTobacco and AlcoholWireless CommunicationsUtilities 3 Which of these sectors do you think is set to move down in the coming week? --Choose One--Aerospace and DefenseAirlinesAutomobilesBeverages and Food ProductsBiotechnologyCommercial BanksComputers and PeripheralsConsumer NondurablesEnergy Equipment & ServicesHMOs and HospitalsHomebuildingInsuranceIntegrated OilInternet, Software ServicesInvestment Bankers and BrokersMediaMultiline RetailPharmaceuticalsPrecious MetalsSemis, Semi EquipmentTelecom EquipmentTobacco and AlcoholWireless CommunicationsUtilities View the results without voting