Alan Greenspan is scheduled to speak this evening under the general heading of "technology and banking" to a gathering of the Women in Housing and Finance group in Washington, D.C. This will be Greenspan's first public appearance since the FOMC last week acknowledged for the first time that the economic expansion is slowing to a pace "below... its potential to produce." If, as seems increasingly likely, last week's statement was a prelude to the FOMC dropping its tightening bias at next month's meeting, Greenspan tonight could well drop a hint or two about his policy intentions. Over the years, it has become customary for Greenspan to prep the markets for forthcoming changes in policy direction so that by the time the FOMC sanctions the move it is largely a fait accompli. With the next FOMC meeting scheduled for December 19, this would seem to be an opportune moment for Greenspan to begin that process.