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Alcoa Inc. (AA) next week will kick off what's expected to be a rough fourth-quarter earnings season.

Two major economic reports are expected to show little to no inflation in consumer or wholesale prices for December.

Though financial problems will keep some auto makers away, the North American International Auto Show opens Sunday in Detroit. And executives of health-care companies and major retailers also will gather at separate industry conferences next week.

 
   Alcoa 1st Blue Chip To Post 4Q Results< 
 

Alcoa reports results Monday, less than a week after it rattled Wall Street by unveiling a plan to cut more jobs, slash production and sell assets. The aluminum giant's latest restructuring plan shows that an earlier round of cost cutting last fall was insufficient in the face of the sustained economic downturn. Alcoa, like other metals producers, has been hit hard by the combination of falling aluminum prices, waning consumption and rising stockpiles.

The company said Tuesday it will take a fourth-quarter restructuring charge of $900 million to $950 million for the moves, which includes the elimination of about 15,000 jobs, or 15% of the work force. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect Alcoa to report a loss of 9 cents a share on $5.26 billion in revenue. A year earlier, it earned 36 cents a share, excluding items, on $7.39 billion in revenue.

 
   Intel Reports After 2nd Revenue Revision< 
 

Giant semiconductor maker Intel Corp. (INTC) kicks off earnings season in the technology sector Thursday, a little more than a week after slashing its fourth-quarter revenue outlook for the second time in two months. While investors are expecting a historic sales drop for the latest quarter, the company's first-quarter guidance should provide details on the depth of the downturn in tech, as cash-strapped consumers continue to halt spending on computers, cellphones and other electronic devices.

Other large companies reporting are Biotech giant Genentech Inc. (DNA) on Thursday; and paint, glass and chemicals maker PPG Industries Inc. (PPG) and online brokerage Charles Schwab Corp. (SCHW), both Friday.

 
   Cargill Results Offer Agribusiness Look< 
 

Cargill Inc. will provide a snapshot of conditions in the global agribusiness and food-processing sectors when the global market leader reports fiscal second-quarter earnings Tuesday. While light on detail - privately-held Cargill provides only a net profit figure - the direction of earnings at its five business units may provide guidance for the performance of listed rivals, including Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) and Bunge Ltd. (BG).

 
   2 Economic Reports Detail Inflation< 
 

The government reports on December wholesale and consumer prices on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Both the Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index have shown little to no increases for the past three months.

Other economic reports due are on the November trade balance, on Tuesday; December retail sales and November business inventories, both on Wednesday; and December industrial production, on Friday.

The Federal Reserve Beige Book, which includes anecdotal information on regional economic conditions, is out Wednesday and a report on manufacturing in New York state will be released the next day. On Friday, the Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index releases its preliminary figures for January.

Among appearances by Federal Reserve officials: Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart on Monday in Atlanta; Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker on Tuesday in Columbia, S.C., and Friday in Richmond; Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser on Wednesday in Delaware; and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans on Thursday in Madison, Wis.

 
   Slimmed-Down Auto Show Opens In Detroit< 
 

Nissan Motor Co. (7201.TO), the third-largest Japanese auto maker, is the biggest of the manufacturers staying home from the North American International Auto Show that opens Sunday in Detroit. Other participants have scaled back their exhibits.

But many new models will be on display, including General Motors Corp.'s (GM) new Cadillac crossover, Ford Motor Co.'s (F) two Lincoln models that can park themselves as well as a hybrid version of the Ford Fusion sedan, and Toyota Motor Corp.'s (TM) third-generation Prius hybrid.

 
   Health-Care Executives Gather< 
 

Hundreds of health-care executives will gather from Monday to Thursday at the 27th annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. The event is widely seen as the sector's biggest financial meeting and has produced notable deals and corporate updates in recent years.

Comments about deal trends, especially among the cash-rich pharmaceutical giants and increasingly credit-crunched smaller drug developers, will be closely watched. The chief executives of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), Merck & Co. (MRK), Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX), CVS Caremark (CVS), Genentech, Amgen Inc. (AMGN) and Celgene Corp. (CELG) will address the conference.

Research chiefs from Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) will also be there, but JPMorgan drug analyst Chris Schott said he'll be paying close attention to Eli Lilly & Co.'s (LLY) for comments about an upcoming U.S. regulatory advisory meeting on the experimental anti-clotting drug prasugrel. Schott will also be watching whether executives from generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) and Sepracor Inc. (SEPR), which makes the insomnia drug Lunesta, talk about additional cost cuts.

 
   Retailers Hold National Meeting In NYC< 
 

The National Retail Federation will hold its 98th annual convention next week, with potentially pinched attendance reflecting industry woes. The trade group expects 17,500 to 18,500 attendees and exhibitors to fill New York's Jacob Javits Center during the four-day event that starts Sunday. Last year, 18,500 attended.

CEOs from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), J.C. Penney Co. (JCP), Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF), Neiman Marcus Group Inc. and Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) are among those participating in presentations. The Javits Center will be filled with vendors offering everything from smart shopping carts to multimillion-dollar customer-tracking systems.

The conference's theme is "Inspiration Starts Here," which NRF President Tracy Mullin said "reflects the attitude needed now that retailers are facing such crucial times."

 
   2nd Part of TARP Before House< 
 

The House could vote next week on legislation laying out conditions for the release of the remaining $350 billion in rescue funds. House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., backs a bill requiring the Treasury Department to steer at least $50 billion of remaining TARP funds toward a comprehensive plan to staunch foreclosures.

The House also plans to consider legislation to provide medical insurance for an additional 10 million lower-income children. That bill would largely be paid for by an increase in federal cigarette taxes.

In addition, two key congressional committee chairmen have said they hope details of the $775 billion economic stimulus package will begin to solidify by next week.

 
   Obama, Mexican Leader To Meet< 
 

In the last week before he takes the oath of office, President-elect Barack Obama is scheduled to meet Monday with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Meanwhile, the Senate will hold confirmation hearings on several of Obama's Cabinet and other appointees next week. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D., N.Y., nominated to be secretary of state, appears Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Mary L. Schapiro, picked to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission, meets Thursday with the Senate Banking Committee.

 
   FCC To Vote On Analog TV Extension< 
 

The Federal Communications Commission will vote Thursday on rules that will ease television viewers' transition into all-digital broadcasting. The order will implement a new law allowing TV stations to maintain analog signals for 30 days after the Feb. 17 digital TV switch solely for public-safety announcements and information about the digital transition.

This week, a top Obama adviser called for lawmakers to delay next month's deadline, saying there is "insufficient support" for problems that consumers who rely on over-the-air TV may experience once the analog signals are shut off.

 
   Conferences 
 

Among the other significant conferences next week are the Cowen & Co. Consumer Conference on Monday and Tuesday in New York, Credit Suisse Group Homebuilding Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday in New York, Goldman Sachs Energy Conference on Wednesday and Thursday in Key Biscayne, Fla., and Deutsche Bank Securities Real Estate Outlook Conference on Thursday in New York.

-By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5975; kathy.shwiff@dowjones.com

(Bob Sechler, Doug Cameron, Jerry A. DiColo, Karen Talley, Peter Loftus, Thomas Gryta, Fawn Johnson and other Dow Jones Newswires staff contributed to this report.)

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