Stocks in the News: GE, Google, McDonald's

The following is a round-up of news likely to affect stock prices today:

General Electric Co. (GE) fourth-quarter earnings dropped 19% to $2.94 billion, or 28 cents per share. Results still beat Wall Street earnings estimates of 26 cents per share. The company's finance unit, GE Capital, managed a modest profit in the quarter. Shares rose over 1% in early premarket action.