The Week Ahead

Today

* The Federal Open Market Committee meets to discuss interest rates.

Tuesday

* The Conference Board reports its monthly consumer confidence index.

* The Federal Open Market Committee continues its meeting on interest rates.

Thursday

* The Commerce Department reports on gross domestic product for the fourth quarter.

Friday

* The Commerce Department reports on personal income and spending and factory orders for February.

* Guidant Corp. shareholders vote on a $27.2-billion acquisition by Boston Scientific Corp.