Recent News: LinkedIn CNBC, GE Stock v. Market, Theolia Wind Farm, Assurant, Profit, and GE Aviation

LinkedIn lands CNBC deal
CNBC has entered into an alliance with LinkedIn under which the financial news channel will air content generated by the professional networking site's 27 million members. CNBC, which is part of General Electric Co, will integrate LinkedIn's networking functionality into its website CNBC.com, enabling users to share and discuss news with their professional contacts....

GE stock: It's good, but it's riskier than the S&P 500
With its hands in everything from aircraft engine manufacturing to TV broadcasting, General Electric may seem like a slice of American business. And from a basic point of view, there's some truth to that. The company is involved in many sectors of the economy from finance to media to manufacturing. But don't think that by owning GE you've diversified your portfolio as much as by buying a diversified mutual fund...

Theolia's Wind Farm Flop
Shares of French wind-energy firm Theolia, which is partly owned by General Electric, dropped 8.6%, or 1.21 euros ($1.74), to 12.84 euros ($18.51), during morning trading in Paris on Wednesday. Theolia announced a hefty loss of 25.3 million euros ($36.5 million) for the first half of 2008 on Wednesday, slashing its full-year profitability...

Analysts say Assurant's GE deal 'a natural fit'
Shares of Assurant Inc. ticked higher Friday, after the New York-based insurer announced plans to acquire General Electric Cos warranty management group, which sells warranties for major appliances and consumer electronics. Shares gained $1.43, or 2.5 percent, to $58.41. The stock has fallen 18 percent since peaking at a 52-week high of $71.31 in July and is down about 13 percent so far this year....

GE upbeat in spite of just 1% profit rise
GENERAL Electric, the world’s largest company in terms of market value, has reported a rise in first-quarter profits of just one per cent, but said it was still on target for double-digit growth in 2005. The United States conglomerate, whose businesses range from aircraft engines to financial services, said earnings for the three months to the end of March rose to £1.77 billion, up from £1.75bn for the same period last year....

GE Aviation May Expand In Pinellas
General Electric's aviation unit is looking to expand operations in Pinellas County, a move that could bring new jobs to the area. GE spokeswoman Jennifer Villarreal confirmed Friday that the company has been seeking a location for expansion in Pinellas County and expects to make a decision on a site within a month. She declined to be specific about potential location sites in the county or job creation....