General Electric earns 20.7 billion dollars in 2006


dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday January 19, 2007

New York- General Electric, the world's second-largest
company, said Friday it had earned a record 20.7 billion dollars in
2006, an 11 per cent increase from the previous year.
The company, whose products include financial services, health
care, plastics and the media firm NBC Universal, said earnings per
share for continuing operations were 1.99 dollars for the year, up 13
per cent from 2005.

Earnings for the fourth quarter were 6.6 billion dollars, up 12
per cent from 5.9 billion dollars in the same period a year earlier.
Revenues were 44.6 billion dollars for the quarter, up 11 per cent
from 40.3 billion in the same quarter in 2005.

Revenues for the year were up 10 per cent to 163.4 billion
dollars.

The company's chief executive Jeff Immelt said much of the growth
came in the firm's international business.

"Looking ahead, the global environment remains positive for GE,"
he said in a statement. "Our businesses are positioned to capitalize
on the drivers of the global economy."

GE also revised its earnings from 2001 through the third quarter
of 2006.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency