Calendar: What investors need to know for the week ahead

A daily rundown of the economic reports and corporate earnings that will be grabbing the market's attention in the week ahead.

Monday March 21

(830 a.m. ET) U.S. existing home sales for February. The consensus estimate is for a drop of 2.9 per cent to an annual rate of 5.31 million, down from January's 5.47 million.

Earnings include: AGT Food and Ingredients Inc.; Carnival Corp.; YY Inc.

Tuesday March 22

Japan releases March manufacturing PMI data.

Euro area releases manufacturing and services PMI data. Germany also reveals its March IFO business climate index and ZEW survey. The U.K. releases February's consumer price index and producer prices.

Canadian budget day.

(9 a.m. ET) U.S. FHFA house price index for January. Consensus is for a 0.5 per cent rise on a month-over-month basis, or a gain of 5.9 per cent from a year ago.

(945 a.m. ET) U.S. Markit flash manufacturing PMI.

(10 a.m. ET) U.S. Richmond Fed manufacturing index.

Earnings include: Cintas Corp.; Five Below Inc.; Nike Inc.; Red Hat Inc.; Worthington Industries Inc.

Wednesday March 23

Euro area releases consumer confidence for March.

(10 a.m. ET) U.S. new home sales for February. Consensus is for a 3.2 per cent rise to an annualized rate of 510,000.

Earnings include: Concordia Healthcare Corp.; Eldorado Gold Corp.; Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corp.; General Mills Inc.; Magellan Aerospace Corp.; Neogen Corp.; New Flyer Industries Inc.; Power Corporation of Canada; Power Financial Corp.; PVH Corp.; Verint Systems Inc.

Thursday March 24

Euro area releases the ECB Economic Bulletin. Germany releases consumer confidence numbers and Italy industrial orders and retail sales. U.K. releases retail sales.

Ottawa releases the January budget balance.

(830 a.m. ET) U.S. initial jobless claims for week ended March 19. The Street is expecting a rise of 3,000 for the week to 268,000 claims.

(830 a.m. ET) U.S. durable goods orders for February. Consensus is for a drop of 2.7 per cent, or a decline of 0.2 per cent when excluding the transportation segment.

Earnings include: Accenture PLC; Alamos Gold Inc.; Excellon Resources Inc.; Knight Therapeutics Inc.; Spin Master Corp.

Friday March 25

Most major markets closed in Europe and North America for Good Friday holiday.

Japan releases consumer price index and leading index.

France releases GDP numbers for the fourth quarter, as well as consumer confidence for March.

(830 a.m. ET) U.S. releases GDP numbers for the fourth quarter. Consensus is for a 1 per cent expansion of the economy, equal to the preliminary estimate.

No major earnings reports scheduled