October 16, 2009

General Electric Co.'s third-quarter earnings fell as its GE Capital financial arm was again the conglomerate's biggest weakness, partially offset by the consumer and industrial businesses.Shares were down 0.8% at $16.65 premarket. After hitting an 18-year low in March, the stock was up 4% for the year through Thursday.

Last year, the bellwether renowned for reliable earnings shocked Wall Street by missing expectations because of problems at the financial unit. Those woes led to GE's first dividend cut in 60 years and cost the company its coveted AAA credit rating.Chairman and Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said Friday that "in a global economic environment that is beginning to slowly recover, GE delivered solid" results.