Business Highlights Stocks pare losses to finish mixed after oil spikes NEW YORK (AP) _ Wall Street capped a week of big gains with modest moves Friday as investors grappled with surging energy prices that overshadowed news of a surprise increase in home construction. 16 May 2008
582.
GE confirms plans to exit appliance business NEW HAVEN, Conn. _ General Electric Co. plans to sell or spin off the business that for a century has put appliances in American homes, a decision that could presage further asset sales, analysts said. 16 May 2008
583.
Closing Glance: Electrical equipment ends higher Shares of electrical equipment companies closed mostly up on Friday after an Oppenheimer analyst raised his price target on Thomas & Betts Corp. Meanwhile, several expressed confidence in Flextronics International Ltd. following news that its chief financial officer would resign. 16 May 2008
584.
Closing Glance: Heavy engineering ends higher Shares of heavy engineering companies finished higher Friday, though broader markets were mixed following reports that crude prices set another record near $128 a barrel and consumer confidence plunged to a 28-year low. 16 May 2008
585.
Closing Glance: Rails, shippers gyrate as oil up Shares of railroads hit highs in early trading Friday, as investors reacted to a trade group report that said freight traffic rose last week, as oil prices soared to close over $126 a barrel after flirting with $128 earlier in the day. 16 May 2008
586.
Closing Glance: Aerospace and Defense Shares of aerospace and defense companies fell Friday as the broader market moved modestly lower, as oil prices again closed at a record high, tempering positive news that new home construction jumped in April. 16 May 2008
587.
Sector Wrap: Drybulk index hits another high Shares of drybulk shippers sailed higher Friday, as key index measuring drybulk ship activity blasted through an all-time high for the second consecutive day. 16 May 2008
588.
Workers, Ky. officials face uncertainty over GE operation They hung on during years of downsizing, but now the few thousand people working at GE's sprawling Appliance Park face even greater uncertainty with the company's plans to sell or spin off its appliance business. 16 May 2008
589.
Hexcel's 10 board nominees elected as directors Aerospace supplier Hexcel Corp. said Friday that all 10 nominees recommended by the company's board were elected as directors at the company's annual meeting on May 8. 16 May 2008
590.
GE appliance sale a modest negative for Whirlpool General Electric Co.'s plans to sell or spin off its appliance business is a modest negative for Whirlpool Corp., an analyst said Friday, as it could potentially form a more aggressive competitor. 16 May 2008
2.43%XLF 15.10 
10.30%QQQQ 31.32 
