But the loss for the January-March period was smaller than its $1.3 billion loss in the first quarter of 2005. Revenue rose 14 percent and the loss in North America narrowed.

''The first quarter represented an important milestone in GM and GM North America's turnaround,'' GM Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said.

The automaker, which lost $10.6 billion in 2005, is in the midst of a major restructuring that calls for cutting 30,000 jobs by 2008.

The first quarter loss amounts to 57 cents per share versus a loss of $2.22 per share a year earlier.

Included in the first-quarter results was a one-time pretax charge of $1 billion for expenses related to a recent settlement that requires hourly retirees to pay more for their health care. GM must contribute $3 billion to a fund for retiree health care by 2011.

Its revenue rose to a record $52.2 billion from $45.8 billion a year ago, thanks in part to strong sales in Asia and Latin America, the sale of a stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. for $317 million and improvements in North America.

Other quarterly earnings reports

* Marriott International, the world's largest lodging company by revenue, reported earnings of $65 million, or 29 cents per share. That was down significantly from the $145 million, or 61 cents per share, Marriott reported in the first quarter of 2005. The results include a $105 million charge which reduced earnings by 48 cents per share. The company's synthetic fuel business added a penny to earnings. Revenue grew 7 percent to $2.7 billion in the first quarter on higher room rates.

* Union Pacific Corp., the nation's largest railroad, on Thursday reported its profit soared in the first quarter, beating Wall Street estimates as strong demand for commodity shipments helped boost revenue by 18 percent. Net income rose to $311 million, or $1.15 per share, for the January-March period from $128 million, or 48 cents per share, a year ago.

* Southwest Airlines Co. on Thursday said first-quarter profit rose modestly as higher jet fuel costs somewhat offset strong revenue growth, driven by increased passenger traffic and expanded capacity. Earnings edged 3 percent higher to $61 million, or 7 cents a share, for the three months ended March 31 from $59 million, or 7 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue totaled $2.02 billion in the quarter, up 21 percent from $1.66 billion in the prior-year period.

* BellSouth Corp. reported a drop of more than 26 percent in first-quarter profit on a slight increase in revenue. The results narrowly beat Wall Street expectations, when certain one-time items are excluded. The Atlanta-based company said it earned $784 million, or 43 cents a share, for the three months ended March 31, compared with a profit of $1.06 billion, or 58 cents a share, for the same period a year ago.

* Merck & Co. said first-quarter profit rose 11 percent on lower taxes and sales of cholesterol drugs, the Singulair allergy pill and vaccines. Net income increased to $1.52 billion, or 69 cents a share, from $1.37 billion, or 62 cents, a year earlier. Revenue gained 1 percent to $5.41 billion.

* Vivendi Universal SA and EMI Group Plc posted rising music sales as digital downloads doubled and fans bought albums by artists such as Jack Johnson and Coldplay. Vivendi's Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, had an 8.4 percent gain in first-quarter sales to $1.40 billion. London-based EMI, the third-largest music group, said sales increased almost 4 percent in the fiscal year ended March 31.

* UPS Inc., the world's largest shipping carrier, said its small-package delivery unit was buoyed by business customers as it reported a 10.5 percent increase in first-quarter profit and reaffirmed its long-term growth targets. The Atlanta-based company's results narrowly beat Wall Street expectations. United Parcel Service said it earned $975 million, or 89 cents a share, for the three months ending March 31, compared with a profit of $882 million, or 78 cents a share, for the same period a year ago.

* SLM Corp., the U.S. student loan provider known as Sallie Mae, said profit rose 12 percent in the first quarter as it lent more money directly to customers. Net income increased to $287 million, or 65 cents a share, from $256 million, or 57 cents a year earlier. Sallie Mae loaned $3.6 billion directly to customers, 51 percent more than last year. It loaned $4 billion more through partners. Sallie Mae said its student-loan portfolio rose to $126.9 billion from $111.7 billion.

* Newmont Mining Corp., one of the world's leading gold producers, said its profit more than doubled in the first quarter, citing rising gold prices and cost-containment practices. Newmont reported net income of $209 million, or 46 cents a share, in the January-March quarter, up from $84 million, or 19 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2005. Revenue rose to $1.15 billion from $945 million in the previous quarter.

* Altria Group Inc., owner of the world's largest cigarette business and controlling shareholder of Kraft Foods, said its first-quarter profit rose 34 percent on a big tax benefit and the strong performance of its domestic tobacco operations. New York-based Altria earned $3.48 billion, or $1.65 per share, in the quarter ended March 31, up from $2.6 billion, or $1.25 per share, in the year-ago period.

* The Hershey Co. reported a 7 percent rise in its first-quarter profit as the nation's largest candy maker posted little revenue growth. The profit narrowly missed Wall Street expectations. Its shares fell more than 3 percent. For the first three months of 2006, Hershey earned $121 million, or 50 cents a share, compared with a profit of $113 million, or 45 cents a share, in the same period a year earlier.