Earnings, Housing, Taxes and Oil—Advisor Briefing for the Week of April 18, 2011

In a week that follows passage of the continuing resolution to fund the government in fiscal 2011, Congress is in recess while the markets have an abbreviated week in observance of religious holidays. Over the weekend, there were signs from OPEC nations that they would cut production to keep the price of oil high, while there was more posturing from both sides of the political aisle on the next big federal issue: raising the debt ceiling. Individual Americans’ tax liabilities are on many Americans’ minds as the deadline for filing—or seeking extensions on—their 2010 income tax returns falls on Monday.

Events that will likely move the markets this week include Q1 earnings reports from the likes of Citigroup, TD Ameritrade, Wells Fargo, Raymond James and Goldman Sachs, several reads on the housing market, and on Thursday, the last day U.S. stock markets are open this week, leading economic indicators for March.

All times are Eastern.

Monday, April 18

                            U.S. Congress in recess until May.

                            Deadline for filing 2010 individual income tax returns.

7:30 AM:              First-quarter earnings reported by TD Ameritrade.

8:00 AM:              First-quarter earnings reported by Citigroup.

12:00 PM:            Housing market index (HMI) for April released by National Assn. of Homebuilders.

7:38 PM:              Passover begins.

Tuesday, April 19

6:30 AM:              First-quarter earnings reported by Bank of New York/Mellon.

7:00 AM:              First-quarter earnings reported by Goldman Sachs.

7:00 AM:              Housing starts for March released by U.S. Commerce Dept.