Weakness in oil and gas dents GE earnings

Weakness in the oil and gas sector dented General Electric's fourth-quarter results, pushing revenues lower despite gains in other industrial divisions, the company reported Friday.

Revenues fell two percent to $33.1 billion, but net income jumped to $3.5 billion, up about 38 percent compared to the final quarter of 2015, not counting earnings from discontinued operations.

GE described the macro environment as "slow growth and volatile" but said it was "more optimistic about the US economy." Sluggish activity in oil and gas has been a drag on GE earnings in recent quarters due to a two-year slump in oil prices.

A November agreement by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut output sparked optimism of a more robust environment for companies like GE that supply drilling services and perform other functions.

But GE said in a presentation that market pressures were continuing in oil and gas, and sales in this business fell 22 percent to $3.4 billion.

GE announced in October it was merging its oilfield services operations with Baker Hughes. With about $32 billion in annual sales, the combined company is expected to have more leverage in negotiating service contracts with large oil producers.