General Electric reported Friday a drop in its second-quarter profit of six percent to 5.1 billion dollars as the massive US conglomerate largely weathered an economic storm.
GE's profit amounted to 54 cents per share, in line with forecasts.
Revenues rose 11 percent for the April-June period to 46.9 billion dollars.
"Led by double-digit segment profit growth in our industrial businesses and a strong relative performance in our financial services businesses, we delivered a solid quarter in a volatile environment," GE chairman and chief executive Jeff Immelt said.
"Many markets and industries remain healthy, while the US economy is challenged. Opportunities in emerging markets, infrastructure, commodities and global healthcare are creating demand for our businesses, while we fight through the difficulties of a burdened US consumer, a tough housing market, inflation and volatile capital markets. Even with all this uncertainty, we still see growth opportunities ahead."
GE, which produces jet engines, locomotives, water treatment plants and medical equipment, has a major finance arm and controls the media-entertainment giant NBC Universal, is also undergoing major restructuring.
Earlier in the day it announced the sale of its Japanese consumer finance arm to Japan's Shinsei Bank for 580 billion yen (5.4 billion dollars).
On Thursday, GE said it is likely to spin off its industrial unit including its appliance division as part of planned reorganization. The move would go further than a plan announced two months ago to sell or spin off the portion of that division that makes appliances and consumer products such as lighting systems.
