Monday
The new trading week kicks off with Sasol (NYSE: SSL) posting its annual results. Analysts are upbeat, expecting earnings of $3.44 a share for all of fiscal 2010. That's 34% ahead of where the South African energy giant stood a year ago.

Tuesday
If your teenagers say they're too sick to go to school on Tuesday, you probably don't need to rush them to the doctor. Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) Halo: Reach hits the stores. The marquee Xbox franchise has fared well in the past, so expect brisk initial sales. The video-game industry can use a boost, so don't let diehard gamers down, Master Chief.

Wednesday
Clarcor (NYSE: CLC) leads the small lineup of quarterly reports on Wednesday. Pros expect the Tennessee-based filtration specialist -- not to be confused with Tennessee-based flirtation specialist Dolly Parton -- to earn $0.50 a share in its fiscal third quarter.

Thursday
Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) CEO Larry Ellison will have a timely opportunity to take more shots at rival Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) when Ellison's company reports on Thursday. HP is suing former CEO Mark Hurd for laughing all the way to the bank with his severance and then quickly setting up camp at Oracle.

Friday
Alpha and Omega hits a multiplex near you on Friday, and the animated feature comes from an unlikely studio. It's not the Mickey Mouse company or even DreamWorks Animation behind this flick. Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF) -- yes, Lions Gate -- is the studio behind this family-friendly release.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz