This Week’s Datebook

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

Today

Columbus Day, a federal holiday. Bond markets are closed, but stock markets are open.

Tuesday

Senate Special Committee on Aging holds a hearing on America’s pensions.

A panel of independent scientific advisors to the Food and Drug Administration hears two days of debate on silicone-gel breast implants.

Technology bellwether Intel reports third-quarter financial results, as do Motorola Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Merrill Lynch & Co., Bank of America Corp., Delta Air Lines, Dow Jones Co. and Gannett Co.

Wednesday

Commerce Department reports on September retail sales;

Federal Reserve releases “beige book,” its survey of regional economic conditions.

Automaker General Motors Corp. reports third-quarter financial results, as do IBM, Kraft Foods Inc., FleetBoston Financial Corp., Monsanto Corp. and Wachovia Corp.

Thursday

Commerce Department reports on business inventories for August.

Federal Reserve reports on industrial production for September.

Labor Department reports on consumer price index for September, weekly jobless claims.

Treasury Secretary John W. Snow and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez testify before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee about regulation of the mortgage companies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Freddie Mac reports on mortgage rates.

The New York Stock Exchange’s interim chairman, John S. Reed, testifies before a House Financial Services subcommittee on the structure and operations of the U.S. capital markets.

Altria Group Inc., parent of Philip Morris and Kraft Foods, reports third-quarter financial results, as do Coca-Cola Co., Continental and Northwest airlines, Sun Microsystems, EBay Inc., Ford Motor Co., Safeway Inc. and Sears Roebuck & Co.

Friday

Commerce Department reports on housing starts for September.

Knight-Ridder Inc. reports third-quarter financial results.