Last Updated: January 23rd, 2009: 4:25 PM ET---After a choppy session of trade, the major US equity indices pared opening losses to close mixed, as investors struggled to weigh mixed results from the likes of GE and Google. The Dow closed 0.6% lower to 8,078 with GE as its laggard, closing off more than 10%. The S&P 500 closed slightly above the unchanged level. The tech-heavy Nasdaq was able to outperform following Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) better-than-expected results. All but three sectors closed in the green, with financials providing leadership and closing 3.3% higher. Meanwhile, consumer services, consumer goods and industrials all closed lower, down 0.7%, 0.9% and 2.8%, respectively. General Electric (NYSE:GE) shares fell after the economic bellwether reported a 44% decline in its quarterly profit, earning $3.65 billion, or 35 cents per diluted share, down from $6.7 billion or 66 cents per diluted share during the year-ago period. For all of '08, GE netted $17.3 billion, or $1.72 per share, 22% lower then in 2007. Investors had feared that the company would cut its dividend or lose its ‘AAA' credit rating, however, GE reaffirmed its intent to pay its $1.24 dividend as well as uphold its credit rating, which will undoubtedly come under scrutiny at major credit agencies like Standard & Poor's. Following Thursday's close, tech-heavyweight Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) reported its fourth-quarter profit fell sharply to $382 million, or $1.21 per share, down from $1.2 billion, or $3.79 per share during the year-ago period. However, excluding special items, Google said it would have earned $5.10 per share beating estimates of $4.95 per share. Xerox' (NYSE:XRX) fourth-quarter results plunged and missed estimates by 4 cents, excluding one-time items. The world's largest oilfield services provider, Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB), also saw its quarterly profit tumble 17%, printing at $1.03 per share ex-items, short of estimates by 2 cents. In addition, the company also warned that the year ahead would be trying. Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) reported its quarterly profit sank 58% to $77.8 million, or 34 cents per share, down from $186.1 million, or 78 cents per share in the year-ago period and well short of estimates of 57 cents per share. Furthermore, in an effort to curb operating costs, the company says it plans to cut 1,100 jobs over the next two years. Towards the end of the session, reports surfaced that Intel's (NASDAQ:INTC) Chairman and former CEO Craig Barret, who was responsible for successfully weathering the dot-com storm, plans to retire. Barret, who joined Intel in '74 and has been chairman of the board since '05, has currently been pushing for the distribution of Intel's (NASDAQ:INTC) inexpensive classmate PCs to developing nations through the United Nations as well as various humanitarian organizations. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) is discussing details with Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) over a potential acquisition, which could be worth over $60 billion. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 45 points to 8,078, the S&P 500 closed at the unchanged level and the Nasdaq Composite Index closed up 12 points to 1,477.

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