Corporate America From GE to Apple Puts $2 Trillion Cash to Work

Corporate America is putting its record $2 trillion cash pile to work.

Apple Inc.’s quarterly results this week showed the iPhone maker reduced its cash holdings for the first time since 2006, cranked up a share buyback program by $30 billion and raised its dividend. General Electric Co. is considering tapping its $57 billion in overseas cash to acquire France’s Alstom SA, according to a person familiar with the situation.