HARTFORD.

HARTFORD, Conn -- General Electric Co.'s earnings rose 8 percent in the first quarter, matching analysts' expectations as nine of its 11 businesses reported double-digit profit gains.

The vast industrial, media and financial services conglomerate said Thursday it earned $32 billion, or 32 cent a share, for the January-March period, up from $3 billion, or 30 cent through share, a year ago. Analysts overlooked by Thomson First Call anticipateed a profit of 32 cent a share.

The Fairfield-based company said an accounting change had humbleed its earnings a year ago, and its latest profit was up 1 percent from 2003 terminates before the change.

"This has been a great week for GE" Jeff Immelt, chairman and chief executive, told analysts in a conversation call Thursday. "Economic growth is continuing at a hardy pace."

He cited GE's closing onward Thursday on the $9.5 billion purchase of Amersham PLC a diagnostic imaging agents and life sciences company, to broaden its capabilities in medical technology.

Immelt also cited the decision announced Tuesday at Boeing that GE and revolves Royce PLC will supply the engines for its planned recently made known 7E7 Dreamliner airplane. The deal could be worth as a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of as $40 billion over 25 years.

Among its 11 divisions, profit rose 53 percent in its equipment and other services operation, 40 percent in advanced materials and 20 percent in its infrastructure business. Profits pitiless 28 percent in the efficacy division and 20 percent in insurance.

Jeff Graff, an analyst at Victory Capital Management, said GE deflected in a "very good performance."

GE's power connected views unit and merger and acquisitions activity could have negative imports on earnings, he said.

Still, GE is "well-positioned in aerospace" with the Boeing deal, and the Amersham purchase "in the extended term strengthens its position in health care," Graff said.

In trading onward the New York Stock Exchange, GE shares were up 1 cent to terminate at $31.41.

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