</SPAN> WASHINGTON (AP) - General Electric Co. says profits at its lending arm will start improving by 2011, but first it will have to slog through another year of big losses on loans gone bad in areas like commercial real estate.</SPAN>
The conglomerate told analysts Tuesday that profit is expected to be flat next year, ranging between $2 billion to $2.5 billion, and then rise in 2011. GE is ahead of schedule with plans to shrink the size of GE Capital, which once provided nearly half of the company's overall profits. And GE says credit markets are improving, making it easier and cheaper to borrow money.</SPAN>
But some big problems that have beset GE Capital during the financial crisis and recession, like big losses, are expected to continue to dog the lender next year. Chief among them is commercial real estate, where losses have soared as the broader market crumbles. GE Capital owns properties such as office buildings and makes loans for other commercial projects.</SPAN>
Overall losses are expected to peak in 2010 at $13.6 billion. GE said that while some other previously troubled lending areas have stabilized, such as consumer credit cards and mortgages in the United Kingdom, losses in commercial real estate could reach $2.9 billion n  阅读全文>>