GE boost

General Electric said it will increase its dividend in 2011, two years after the company reduced it to save money as its financial arm struggled, and told analysts GE sees potential for retiring its preferred stock and opportunities for stock buybacks.

Home blues

US housing starts fell in February, as winter storms disrupted construction, and another drop in building permits suggested the weakness would linger.

Sweet six

Stocks posted a sixth- straight daily gain yesterday, the longest so far this year. The Dow Jones industrial average ended 43.83 points higher, up 0.4 percent to end at 10,685.98.

EU talks

Discussions about the European Union’s plan to crack down on hedge funds stalled yesterday after Britain dug in its heels to head off new rules that could damage its financial center.

Lazard sale

The estate and trusts of the late Bruce Wasserstein, the chief executive officer of Lazard, will lead a public sale of 7.87 million shares of the firm’s stock.