Dublin-based helicopter-leasing firm Milestone Aviation Group is to be acquired by the sector’s biggest player, GE Capital Aviation Services, for nearly $1.8bn (€1.4bn).

GENERAL ELECTRIC posted second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates, buoyed by itsfinance unit, as the industrial order backlog rose to a record level.

General Electric Co's shares were posting a modest gain in midsession trade as investors pondered the defense the company issued to counter a prominent bond fund manager's criticisms of its debt load, dealers said.