GENERAL Electric (GE) posted an 80% rise in first-quarter profit, helped by a strong recovery in its finance arm, that topped Wall Street expectations.

GLOBAL stocks staged the biggest rally of 2011 yesterday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached an almost three-year high amid better- than-estimated results at companies from Intel to United Technologies and L’Oreal.

THE Dow hit a seven-month low last night as increases in jobless claims and the trade deficit and a slowdown in China’s export growth spurred concern the economy may falter.

Stocks rose sharply today, giving the market its fourth straight week of gains, after a sharp increase in orders for manufactured goods allowed investors to shake off several days of doldrums.

ALMOST 100 hi-tech jobs are set to be created in Cork city as part of a multi-million euro drive ministers have claimed will push Ireland to the top of Europe’s green energy agenda.

An Irish trading company has been charged with sending helicopter engines and other aircraft parts to Iran, according to an indictment unveiled in a US federal court today.

Wall Street soared higher today, extending its rally into a second session as tumbling energy prices bolstered an already upbeat mood which followed stronger-than-expected quarterly reports from big names like JPMorgan Chase and United Technologies.

European Union regulators slapped their largest price-fixing fine ever – €992m – on five lift makers today.

Wall Street rebounded today, rising moderately as crude oil surged more than two dollars a barrel and triggered a rally among energy producers.

Wall Street ended an erratic session with a modest advance today as investors awaited further signs about the health of the economy.

US stocks rose moderately for a second consecutive session today, boosted by strong earnings from United Technologies and McDonalds.

THE State’s National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) has invested in six of the seven companies blacklisted on ethical grounds by the Norwegian State pension fund.

THE €15 billion National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) is to review its policy on ethical investments.

Wall Street’s chronic inflation fears sent stocks skidding today as a sharp jump in wholesale prices overshadowed strong profit reports from several Dow Jones industrials. Heavy selling in the energy sector also pressured the major indexes.

Wall Street stabilised today, closing little changed although another spike in oil prices sent many investors to the safety of the bond market. Scattered bargain-hunting after the previous session’s slide kept selling to a minimum.

Shares in FTSE-listed Kidde climbed more than 17% today after the fire equipment group said it had knocked back a takeover approach.

Wall Street stumbled through a mostly lifeless session today as bargain hunters gave technology stocks a moderate lift but struggling defence contractors kept blue chips under pressure.

Technology shares sank today on disappointing news from Intel, briefly pushing the Nasdaq composite index into negative territory for the year despite a brighter forecast from wireless equipment maker Qualcomm.

Blue chip shares pulled back, but most US stocks finished higher today, extending a year-end rally that has propelled major market measures to the highest levels in nearly two years.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed above the 10,000 milestone for a second day today as investors shrugged off a downbeat report on consumer sentiment to push stocks higher.

The FTSE 100 Index completed another positive session today despite surrendering most of its earlier gains.

London’s leading shares maintained their upward momentum today as another psychologically important barrier moved into view.

The FTSE 100 Index surged towards the 4200 mark today as investors on both sides of the Atlantic showed a renewed sense of optimism.

UNITED Technologies Corp, the maker of Carrier air conditioners and Otis elevators, is in talks to buy Chubb Plc, the world's third-largest provider of security services, people familiar with the situation said.

Wall Street pushed higher today as investors remained hopeful that the US economy would improve despite a murky corporate outlook and a disappointing jobs report.

US investors grew more cautious today, sending stock prices moderately lower despite better-than-expected profits from Sears and United Technologies.

Choosey bargain hunters surfaced on Wall Street today, bidding blue chips higher following an extended sell-off that had sent stocks to their lowest levels in months. But technology stocks fell for the fifth straight day.

Bargain hunting have propelled US stocks sharply higher after better-than-expected results from Yahoo.

Profit warnings from Ciena and Lucent Technologies, and news of more layoffs and deteriorating retail sales, unnerved Wall Street today and prompted heavy selling.

A jetliner crash in New York today gave Wall Street a sharp reminder that more terrorist attacks are possible and prompted shaken investors to refrain from any major moves.