The coming days offer little in the way of macroeconomic data, but the sparsely populated calendar does hold new stats on the housing markets.

"Housing will dominate the news in the upcoming week," said economists at IHS Global Insight. "February's housing numbers were deplorable, but they were probably dragged down by special factors such as weather and building code changes. March will bring better numbers, but the improvement will be payback, not the long anticipated pickup in demand from an improving job market."

With housing numbers expected to remain poor, the continuation of first-quarter earnings will likely take center stage. After a disappointing start to earnings season last week, equity investors are hoping to hear an encouraging tone in the week ahead. Citibank and Texas Instruments report on Monday. Goldman Sachs, Intel and IBM report on Tuesday. Apple, AT&T and Wells Fargo on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley and Verizon print Thursday.

Markets will be closed on Friday in observance of Good Friday