Major business events and economic events scheduled for the coming week (some dates are tentative):

MONDAY, Jan. 5

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases construction spending for November, 10 a.m.; weekly Treasury briefing, auction; House Financial Services Committee hearing on the Bernard Madoff scandal and the need for regulatory changes.

DETROIT — Major automakers report U.S. auto sales for December.

SEOUL, South Korea — 5,200 union workers at Ssangyong vote on a proposed strike to protest against possible job cut.

TOKYO — Japan auto executives at industry group's New Year gathering.

TUESDAY, Jan. 6

WASHINGTON — Commerce Department releases factory orders for November, 10 a.m.; National Association of Realtors releases pending home sales index, 10 a.m.; Federal Reserve releases minutes from December meeting, 2 p.m.

NEW YORK — The Institute for Supply Management releases its non-manufacturing index for December, 10 a.m.

LOS ANGELES — Trial of Mexican media giant Televisa's $118 million lawsuit alleging breach of contract and unpaid royalties against Spanish-language broadcaster Univision.

TOKYO — Japan's top executives gather for business lobby New Year's gathering.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7

WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson speaks at the Economic Club of Washington; House Financial Services Committee hearing on priorities for the Obama administration on using the Wall Street rescue fund; House Steering and Policy Committee, a panel of only Democrats, holds a hearing on economic recovery proposals; Senate Environment and Public Workers Committee briefing on investing in green technology as a way to help the economy.

FAIRPORT, N.Y. — Constellation Brands Inc. reports third-quarter financial results.

ST. LOUIS — Monsanto Co. reports first-quarter financial results.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Supervalu Inc. reports third-quarter financial results.

BERLIN — Germany's Federal Labor Agency releases December unemployment figures.

THURSDAY, Jan. 8

WASHINGTON — Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates.; Federal Reserve releases consumer credit for November, 3 p.m.; Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on energy security challenges; Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the recent coal ash spill in Tennessee; Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on helping state and local law enforcement during the economic downturn.