Blue chips slip on GE concerns, retailers

Blue-chip stocks edged lower on Friday after shares of conglomerate General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE - news) sank on concerns its costs are rising faster than revenues in some of its businesses.

In addition, a negative brokerage recommendation affecting Home Depot Inc. (NYSE:HD - news), the home improvement store, and other retail companies pushed down the Dow average and the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index. The Nasdaq Composite index rose, led by Apple Computer Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL - news)

The Dow hit a fresh all-time high on Thursday after consumer companies like McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD - news) and Costco Corp. (Nasdaq:COST - news) beat earnings expectations.