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Will they stay or will they go?

By Ricky McRoskey

Will they stay or will they go?

That's the question surrounding several of General Electric's (GE) business segments as the tough economy forces the beleaguered industrial conglomerate to reshuffle some of its major operations. On July 10, the 130-year-old company announced it will unload its $17 billion Consumer & Industrial arm, which makes everything from lightbulbs to dishwashers. GE's credit-card business has been on the block for months.

Since taking the helm, CEO Jeffrey Immelt has shed more than $55 billion in businesses only to acquire $88 billion in new assets, particularly in higher-growth, high-tech areas. What could be Immelt's next move?

BusinessWeek ponders the outlook for GE's six major businesses.