Investors will be paying close attention to Friday’s release of the second-quarter U.S. gross domestic product data for U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

Economists forecast U.S. GDP growth for the second quarter of 2006 slowed to an annual rate of 3% from a torrid 5.6% pace during the first quarter.

In Canada, the Statistics Canada releases retail sales data for June on Monday.

On Thursday, StatsCan issues its July survey of business conditions.

On Friday, StatsCan posts industrial product prices and raw material prices for June.

South of the border

On Tuesday, the U.S. National Association of Realtors reports on existing home sales for June.

On Thursday, the U.S. Commerce Department reports on durable orders in June.

Separately, the U.S. Commerce Department releases data on new home sales for June.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Labor reports on initial jobless claims for the week ended July 22.

On Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department releases its advance report on second-quarter GDP.

Separately, the University of Michigan issues its index of consumer sentiment for July.

Corporate earnings

Among the domestic companies scheduled to report results this week are Falconbridge Ltd. and Teck Cominco Ltd. Monday; Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., EnCana Corp., Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and Shell Canada Ltd. Tuesday; Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. on Wednesday; Cameco Corp., Petro-Canada, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., Sun Life Financial Inc., Talisman Energy Inc. and Thomson Corp. on Thursday; and George Weston Ltd. on Friday.