General Electric, Zoltek among big market movers

NYSE

General Electric Co., down 24 cents at $32.13

The industrial conglomerate will sell or spin off its appliance business, which has been hit hard by a domestic housing slump and economic slowdown.

Fannie Mae, down 34 cents at $29.89

The government-sponsored mortgage financier will scrap higher downpayment requirements for borrowers in distressed real estate markets.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., up 11 cents at $76.19

Despite high expenses, strong gross margin and sales lifted first-quarter profit 3 percent and above Wall Street expectations.

Macy's Inc., down 10 cents at $25.22

FAO Schwarz will open toy stores in around 700 of the company's department stores over the next two years.

Kohl's Corp., down $1.22 at $49.27

First-quarter profit declined and was worse than expected, and the department store operator also cut its full-year profit outlook.

Advance Auto Parts Inc., up $4.18 at $38.82

Strong sales at new locations lifted the auto parts retailer's quarterly profit 8 percent and above expectations.

Healthcare Realty Trust Inc., down $1.13 at $27.10

An analyst downgraded the stock and four other real estate investment trusts, predicting investors will shift funds elsewhere when the economy rebounds.

NASDAQ

Zoltek Cos., up $4.47 at $30.98

The maker of carbon fibers used in wind turbine blades swung to a fiscal second-quarter profit on a 35 percent increase in sales.