The Week Ahead

TODAY

→ U.S. financial markets and government offices are closed for Presidents Day.

→ Japan reports its fourth-quarter gross domestic product.

TUESDAY

→ National Assn. of Home Builders releases its housing market index for February.

→ Earnings reports are due from Kraft Foods, Merck and Whole Foods Market.

WEDNESDAY

→ Commerce Department releases housing starts for January.

→ Federal Reserve issues minutes of last month’s meeting and report on industrial production.

→ Hewlett-Packard results.

THURSDAY

→ U.S. releases January producer price index, weekly jobless claims.

→Freddie Mac issues weekly mortgage rate survey.

→ Results due from Wal-Mart, CBS, Dell and DirecTV Group.

FRIDAY

→ Labor Department releases consumer price index for last month.

→ J.C. Penney reports quarterly earnings.