Next Week's economic report

Monday: The National Association of Realtors will release its monthly report on existing home sales, which economists polled by Briefing.com expect rose to an annual rate of 4.25 million in September from 4.13 million the previous month.
Amgen (AMGN), Lorillard (LO) and Texas Instruments (TXN). 

Tuesday: The Case-Shiller 20-City index of home prices in major metropolitan areas for August is due shortly after the market opens. Economists expect a 2% jump after the previous month's 3.2% gain.

At 10 a.m. ET, the Conference Board will release a reading on consumer confidence for October. The index is expected to have ticked up to 49 from 48.5 in September.

 Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Cummins (CMI), DuPont, U.S. Steel (X) and Waddell & Reed Financial (WDR). 

Wednesday: Before the start of trade, the Commerce Department will release its report on orders for durable goods, which are items meant to last three years or more. Economists polled by Briefing.com predicted the number of durable orders increased by 1.7% in September after a 1.3% drop the previous month.

 Allstate (ALL), auto-parts maker Borg-Warner  (BWA), cable operator Comcast (CWCSA), ConocoPhillips, Panera Bread,Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSO), Procter & Gamble and Whirlpool.

Thursday: The Department of Labor will release weekly jobless claims figures before the start of trade. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment is expected to have hit 455,000, from 452,000 the previous week.

Before the opening bell, 3M (MMM, Fortune 500), Exxon Mobil (XOM,Fortune 500) and Motorola (MOT, Fortune 500) will report earnings.

Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) will release its earnings data after the closing bell.

Friday: The first reading on gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter is due before the start of trading. GDP likely grew at a 2% annualized rate, according to estimates, after growing at a 1.7% annualized rate in the second quarter.

The Chicago PMI, a regional reading on manufacturing, is due shortly after the start of trading for the month of October. Analysts expect the index fell to 57.5 from 60.4 in September. Any index reading over 50 indicates expansion.

The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index for April is also due after the start of trade. The index is expected to have inched up to 68 in October from 67.9 the previous month.

 Chevron (CVX), Merck (MRK), Estee Lauder (EL), Ruth's Hospitality Group. Merck will be closely watched for what it says about growth and its drug pipeline. Chevron will sketch in the global energy market.