Calendar

GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE
Feb. 18-22
The industry event, with more than 16,000 game designers, programmers, corporate executives, and other industry professionals, will be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

CANADIAN ECONOMY
Feb. 19, 7 a.m. EST
Inflation most likely cooled in January, and retail sales data, due on Feb. 22, are expected to be weak. Lower inflation and slower economic growth would keep the door open for more interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada.

MEDTRONIC (MDT)
Feb. 19, 8 a.m. EST
Third-quarter profits were probably flat vs. a year ago. The medical device maker on Feb. 1 received U.S. government approval to sell its Endeavor drug-coated stent for heart patients.

HEWLETT-PACKARD
Feb. 19, 11 a.m. EST
The computer maker is expected to report an impressive gain in fiscal 2008 first-quarter earnings. After a big 2007, analysts expect an industry-wide global slowdown in PC sales.

WAL-MART (WMT)
Feb. 19, 12 noon EST
The world's biggest retailer releases fourth-quarter earnings. The first quarter got off to a poor start as Wal-Mart posted January same-store sales growth of 0.5%, far short of its 2% forecast.

SHINY PROFITS
Feb. 20
Several gold producers announce fourth-quarter results, starting with Anglo American and Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM). Barrick Gold (ABX), Goldcorp (GG), Kinross Gold (KGC), and Newmont Mining (NEM) report results on Feb. 21.

PRICE PRESSURES
Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m. EST
U.S. consumer prices probably rose at a monthly clip of 0.3% in January. Despite weaker economic conditions, the yearly pace of inflation remains above 2%, forcing the Fed to keep one eye on price pressures even as the economy weakens.

FED FORECASTS
Feb. 20, 2 p.m. EST
The Federal Reserve issues its latest economic projections. The figures will accompany the minutes for the Fed's Jan. 29-30 monetary policy meeting and its Jan. 21 unscheduled session when it cut rates by 75 basis points.

ASIAN FOREIGN TRADE
Feb. 20, 6:50 p.m. EST
Japan announces its January foreign trade figures. China is also scheduled to release its January trade data this week, but the date has not yet been announced. The numbers will show how badly exports are being hurt by deteriorating economic conditions in the U.S. and other major economies.

SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE (SCGLY)
Feb. 21, 1 a.m. EST
The French bank announces 2007 full-year results, and on the same day launches an $8 billion share sale. It needs to raise capital after writing down $7.2 billion in losses by rogue trader Jérôme Kerviel and nearly $3.9 billion in bad subprime mortgage investments.

NESTLÉ
Feb. 21, 1:30 a.m. EST
The Swiss consumer products company posts 2007 full-year results. Its Alcon (ACL) eye-care unit reported strong fourth-quarter earnings growth and an upbeat 2008 forecast.