January 23, 2009

The conglomerate's shares have suffered of late as investors braced themselves for the possibility of a cut to GE's dividend or credit rating amid increased credit losses at its financing unit, GE Capital, and the falling demand in the industrial economy. U.S. industrial production fell another 2% in December, the fourth drop in six months. In fact, GE said infrastructure orders fell 6% from a year earlier in the fourth quarter.