Toronto’s benchmark index will add 72 publicly traded trusts.

Trading volumes, however, are expected to be thin ahead of the Christmas holiday.

On the economic front, investors will take in November’s Canadian Consumer Price Index on Tuesday, followed by October’s Canadian retail trade report Wednesday and October’s GDP report Friday.

On Monday, Statistics Canada releases data for international securities transactions in October. Economists expect a net gain of $2.9 billion.

Separately, Statscan releases wholesale trade data for October. Economists expect a net gain of 0.5%.

Meanwhile, the Conference Board of Canada releases “Metropolitan Outlook-Winter 2006,” an economic forecast for 20 Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas.

On Tuesday, StatsCan releases its consumer price index for November. Economists predict price pressure cooled 0.1% in November from October as gas prices eased.

Economists expect a year-on-year increase of 2% for core inflation, and an increase of 1.5% excluding core inflation.

Separately, StatsCan reports on employment insurance for October and the consumer price index for November.

On Wednesday, StatsCan releases retail trade data for October. Economists expect a month-on-month rise of 0.3%.

On Thursday, Statistics Canada releases employment, earnings and hours data for October.

On Friday, StatsCan releases gross domestic product data by industry for October. Economists expect a month-on-month increase of 0.2%.

South of the border, the U.S. National Association of Home Builders releases its housing index for December on Monday. Economist expect a reading of 61.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Commerce Department reports on housing starts and building permits for November. Economists expect a reading of US$2.02 billion for housing starts and US$2.094billion for building permits.

Separately, the U.S. Labor Department releases the producer price index for November. Economists expect a month-on-month decline of 0.4%.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Commerce Department releases final gross domestic product data for the third quarter. Economists expect a annualized rise of 4.3%.

On Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department releases U.S. personal income and spending data for November. Economists expect month-on-month increases of 0.3% on income and 0.4% in spending.

The U.S. Labor Department releases initial jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 17. Economists expect a figure of 325,000.

The U.S. Conference Board reports on the leading indicators for November. Economists expect a gain of 0.4%.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Commerce releases durable goods orders data for November. Economists expect a gain of 1%.

University of Michigan releases its final report on consumer confidence for December. Economists expect a figure of 89.

Separately, Commerce reports on new home sales for November. Economists expect annualized sales of 1,311,000 units.

U.S. bond markets set to close early at 2 p.m.

Corporate Earnings

Two Canadian technology leaders, Research In Motion Ltd. and Cognos Inc., are slated to release earnings on Wednesday.

A handful of Wall Street companies will report their earnings in the last week before Christmas. On Monday, Circuit City Stores Inc. releases its results, followed by Nike Inc., Morgan Stanley and Jabil Circuits on Tuesday, Family Dollar Stores Inc., ATI Technologies Inc. and FedEx Corp. on Wednesday, and General Mills Inc. on Thursday.