General Electric Co.’s earnings rose 16% to...

General Electric Co.’s earnings rose 16% to $725 million for its first quarter, compared to $624 million for the year-ago period, the company reported. The Fairfield, Conn.-based firm, whose businesses include manufacturing consumer appliances, industrial equipment, financial services and the RCA Corp., said its businesses were performing according to plan and virtually all had contributed to its profit. GE said particularly good first-quarter earnings’ increases were reported by its plastics, financial services and aerospace divisions.