Investors will shift their focus to corporate earnings this week, with, some of the biggest U.S. companies scheduled to report.

In Canadian economic news, the Bank of Canada releases its business outlook survey on Monday/

On Tuesday, Statistics Canada releases new motor vehicle sales data for February. Economists forecast a decline of 0.5% from January.

On Wednesday, StatsCan releases the leading indicator for March. Economists expect a rise of 0.3% from February.

On Thursday, StatsCan releases the results of an e-commerce survey of about 21,000 private and public enterprises.

Separately, the government agency releases the consumer price index report for March. Economists expect it rose 0.4% from February and 2% year over year.

On Friday, StatsCan reports on retail and wholesale trade for February. Economists expect retail sales rose 0.1% from January; while wholesale sales rose 0.3%.

South of the border, the U.S. Labor Department releases the producers price index for March on Tuesday. Economists see it rising 0.4% over February, and 3.5% from a year earlier.

Separately, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports on housing starts for March. Economists expect an annualized rate of 2.04 million.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Labor Department reports on the consumer price index for March. Economists see it rising 0.4% from February and 3.5% from a year earlier.

On Thursday, the U.S. Conference Board reveals its leading indicators for March. Economists expect no increase.

On Friday, G7 finance ministers and central bankers meet in Washington.

This week, 119 of the S&P 500 composite index are slated to reported earnings, including 12 components of the Dow Jones industrial average. By Friday, roughly one-third of the S&P will have opened the books on its results.

Companies reporting earnings include: Yahoo Inc.; Apple Computer Inc.; Intel Corp.; Canadian National Railways; Inco Ltd.; Google Inc.; Transalta Corp. and Ford Motor Co.