GE aims to return more capital to investors General Electric, the US industrial group, sought to increase the cash it hands back to shareholders by raising its dividend by 12 per cent and authorising the buyback of another $10bn of its own shares. The board on Friday lifted its quarterly dividend by 2c to 19c a share. It also said it was extending the authorisation period for share buy backs - which would have expired at the end of 2013 - to the end of 2015. The newly-authorised funds will add to the $4.9bn left unspent of the previous authorisation for the company to buy its own shares. The planned increases in cash distribution come after the company in October announced third-quarter pre-tax profits up 7 per cent to $4.03bn but revenues up only 3 per cent - less than had been expected - to $36.3bn. GE continued to record strong growth in its emerging markets businesses in the third quarter but suffered a marked slowdown in demand for its wind turbines, for which a key US tax break is being phased out. Jeff Immelt, GE's chief executive, said on Friday that the company was pleased to raise its dividend for the fifth time in three years. "In addition to investing in long-term growth, returning cash to our shareholders remains a top priority," he said. Coupled with our strong operational outlook, today's announcement underscores our balanced and disciplined approach to capital allocation. GE's shares rose 8c to $21.70 in New York afternoon trading.