The Dow fell today, as General Electric posted poor earnings numbers, but several other indexes climbed slightly higher. GE's profit was pulled down by its financial arm, GE Capital, and by plummeting demand for industrial equipment. It reported net income of $3.72 billion, down from about $6.7 billion a year ago. GE shares slid about 10 percent today, closing at just over $12 per share. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 45.24 points, or 0.56 percent, to close at 8077.56. The technology-heavy Nasdaq gained 11.80 points, or 0.88 percent, to close at 1477.29. The broader Standard & Poor 500 index gained 4.45 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at about 832. The American Stock Exchange Composite Index gained 22.62, or 1.9 percent, to close at 1,361.92. The New York Stock Exchange Composite Index gained 24 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 5195.6, and the Russell 2000 gained 1.51, or 0.34 percent, to close at 444.36. Crude oil futures aided stocks, gaining 6.4 percent to $46.47 a barrel in New York.
