THIS WEEK

Major business events and economic events scheduled for the coming week:

MONDAY:

WASHINGTON -- National Association of Realtors releases existing home sales for December, 10 a.m.; weekly Treasury auction, briefing.

NEW YORK -- The Conference Board releases leading indicators for December, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY:

NEW YORK -- The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index, 10 a.m.; Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller releases its November index of home prices, 9 a.m.

WEDNESDAY:

WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve meeting. Interest-rate announcement expected, 2:15 p.m.

THURSDAY:

WASHINGTON -- Commerce Department releases durable goods for December, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases new home sales for December, 10 a.m.; Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates.

FRIDAY:

WASHINGTON -- Commerce Department releases advance report of gross domestic product figures for the fourth quarter, 8:30 a.m.; Labor Department releases employment cost index for fourth quarter, 8:30 a.m.

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS.