This Week’s Datebook

Here are some of the key economic events scheduled for the week.

Monday:

* Commerce Department reports on business inventories for September.

* Treasury Department reports on the federal budget for October.

* Comdex consumer electronics show opens in Las Vegas.

* Bush administration scheduled to decide whether to restrict imports of certain Chinese-made clothes and textiles

* Treasury bill auction.

* Lowes Cos. and Toys R Us Inc. release third-quarter results.

Tuesday:

* Labor Department reports on consumer price index for October.

* Home Depot Inc., Saks Inc. and Staples Inc. release third-quarter results.

* Senate Banking Committee opens hearing on mutual fund scandal.

* Senate Governmental Affairs panel opens hearing on tax shelters.

Wednesday:

* Commerce Department reports on housing starts for October.

* Hewlett-Packard Co. releases fourth-quarter results.

* Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies hosts forum on corporate scandals. Speakers include New York Stock Exchange interim Chairman John S. Reed.

* Securities and Exchange Commission considers new rules regarding corporate directors.

Thursday:

* The Conference Board releases its report on leading indicators for October.

* Labor Department reports on weekly jobless claims.

* Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reports on mortgage rates.

* Senate Banking Committee holds hearings on NYSE governance.

* Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks at a Cato Institute conference on the future of the euro.

* Limited Brands Inc., Barnes & Noble Inc., Borders Group Inc. and Gap Inc. release third-quarter results; Walt Disney Co. releases its fiscal fourth-quarter results.

Friday:

* Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. releases third-quarter results.

From Times wire services