US conglomerate General Electric reported stronger-than-expected profits as earnings from energy and manufacturing offset weakness at its finance and media units. The company's net profit was 3.0 billion dollars in the quarter, or 2.9 billion dollars for common shareholders. That pushed the profit for the full year to 11.2 billion dollars. "GE's environment has improved ...

US mega-firm General Electric on Friday reported better than expected net profits of 2.9 billion dollars for the last quarter of 2009. "GE's environment has improved and we saw some encouraging signs at year-end," Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said.

US mega-firm General Electric on Friday reported better than expected net profits of 2.9 billion dollars for the last quarter of 2009. "GE's environment has improved and we saw some encouraging signs at year-end," Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said.

Energy issues and people with a stake in them figure prominently in the latest batch of visitor records released by the White House. Those landing meetings with aides to President Barack Obama include General Electric chief executive Jeffrey Immelt, who has roughly a half-dozen scheduled meetings in the ...