First-quarter corporate reports reach a peak next week, with 40% of the Dow Jones Industrial Average components and a quarter of those in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index releasing results.

Data on March home sales are expected to show another decline in sales of existing homes, but analysts predict a small rise in new-home sales.

And U.S. auto makers General Motors Corp. (GM) and Chrysler LLC are expected to solidify their plans - especially Chrysler, which is trying to work out a deal with Fiat SpA (F.MI).

 
   Big, Regional Banks Report On 1Q

More banks will post first-quarter results next week, after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Citigroup Inc. (C) surprised Wall Street with higher-than-expected earnings this week. Bank of America Corp. (BAC) reports Monday, and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), which previewed its results last week, is expected to post a $3 billion profit Wednesday.

Among the regional banks reporting are KeyCorp (KEY), Regions Financial Corp. (RF) and U.S. Bancorp (USB). Being so tied to the housing market, regional banks are more likely to reflect the drop in consumer spending and the economic downturn than larger banks.

Meanwhile, Citi holds its annual meeting Tuesday, and some proxy-advisory firms have recommended shareholders withhold votes for or against some incumbent directors, saying they failed to fulfill their risk-management responsibilities.

 
   IBM, Apple, Microsoft On Tap

A number of major tech companies will detail their latest quarter's results next week, starting with International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN) on Monday. Most firms are likely to have lower profits, though IBM is forecast to match its year-earlier profit.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) will post results Wednesday in its first reporting period in years without Chief Executive Steve Jobs at the helm; he is on a medical leave. Wall Street expects lower earnings with revenue up about 6%. Software giant Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), which reports Thursday, is seen recording a 17% decline in per-share earnings.

 
   Big Drug Makers Report Amid Mergers

Some of the largest U.S. drug makers will disclose first-quarter results as the industry is undergoing a major consolidation wave. Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY), which reports Monday, last fall bought ImClone as it pushes further into biotechnology drugs. Merck & Co. (MRK) and merger partner Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) report Tuesday.

 
   Big Food Firms Likely To Hold Up

Earnings of some of the largest U.S. food companies are expected to fall less than others' amid the recession. Coca-Cola Co. (KO), which reports Tuesday, and PepsiCo Inc. (PEP), on Thursday, are likely to maintain solid growth with the help of international sales.

McDonald's Corp. (MCD) and Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC parent Yum Brands Inc. (YUM), both reporting Wednesday, have benefitted as consumers opt to eat out at cheaper places.

 
   UPS, Railroads To Post 1Q Results

A number of freight-transport companies, including United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) and major railroads Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNI) and Union Pacific Corp. (UNP), will shed more light on the state of the economy when they post first-quarter results next week.

The sector, often viewed as a barometer of overall economic activity, has been suffering major volume declines, and railroad CSX Corp. (CSX) recently signaled more of the same for the second quarter. UPS, the world's largest package-delivery company, reports Thursday, as do Burlington Northern and Union Pacific.

 
   Low Demand, Charges Hurt Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), the world's largest builder of construction machinery, will report first-quarter data Tuesday. Weak demand for equipment and large charges for plant closings and layoffs announced earlier are expected to drag down sales and profit. Results from Caterpillar's customer and dealer finance unit will likely attract increased attention as investors look for indications of stress from rising loan defaults.

 
   CME Profit, Clearinghouse Details Seen

CME Group Inc. (CME), the world's biggest futures exchange operator, is expected to report a first-quarter profit Thursday, but CME market volumes remain well below year-ago levels and fees collected from trading have declined throughout the quarter. The company also is likely to provide details on the launch of its long-gestating clearinghouse for credit derivatives, approved by regulators in March.

 
   New-Home Sales Could Climb Again

March new home sales, to be reported April 24, are estimated to rise 0.9%, while another decline is likely in sales of existing homes, which the National Association of Realtors will detail a day earlier. Sales of new homes rose in February for the first time in seven months.

A government report on March durable-goods sales also is due April 24. On Monday, the Chicago Fed will detail March manufacturing activity in that region and the private Conference Board releases its March Index of Leading Economic Indicators.

Among appearances by Federal Reserve officials: Vice Chairman Donald Kohn, Minneapolis Fed President Gary Stern and Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart will speak Saturday in Nashville; and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans speaks Monday in Chicago.

 
   U.S. Auto Makers' Plans Expected

The futures of GM and Chrysler could take more solid form next week, especially as the federal government's April 30 deadline for Chrysler to strike a deal with Italian car maker Fiat draws near. An analyst said Friday that Fiat's management seems to be working hard toward an alliance and to avoid a Chrysler bankruptcy.

GM is likely to announce more job cuts as well as plans for its Hummer and Saturn brands. The government also is preparing to lend GM an additional $5 billion and Chrysler $500 million, with an announcement of the fresh lending package expected next week, the Detroit News reported Friday.

In addition, Ford Motor Co. (F), which has not sought government loans, will report first-quarter results April 24.

 
   Businesses, Media Celebrate Earth

Businesses will mark Earth Day on Wednesday with a variety of promotions, ranging from retailers contributing a portion of sales to the environmental causes to companies collecting cell phones and computers for recycling. Many media outlets will offer special programming about how to "go green" by reducing energy use.

First observed in 1970, Earth Day originally had 20 million participants. Today, more than a half-billion individuals are expected to take part in some program connected with the event.

 
   G8 Meets On Agriculture, Environment

Agriculture ministers from the eight largest industrial countries are meeting through Monday in Italy to discuss ways to fight hunger and boost food security. While there, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will hold bilateral meetings with China's Vice Minister of Agriculture Niu Dun and agriculture ministers from Japan, Egypt and Russia.

The gathering will be followed by a meeting of G8 environment ministers from Wednesday through Friday.

 
   Conferences

Among the significant conferences next week are the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting from Saturday through Wednesday in Denver, Independent Petroleum Association of America's annual Oil & Gas Investment Symposium from Monday through Wednesday in New York, Dow Jones Newswires Alternative Energy Innovations Spring Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday in Redwood City, Calif., and Susquehanna International Group Consumer Focus Forum on Thursday in New York.

-By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5975; kathy.shwiff@dowjones.com

(Bob Sechler, Robert Tita, Jacob Bunge and other Dow Jones Newswires staff contributed to this report.)