The Aerospace Industries Association spent $200,000 in the first quarter to lobby on a range of issues critical to aerospace and defense sector, according to a disclosure report filed April 18.

Aerospace and defense stocks declined in Friday trading, as oil prices set new records and insurer American International Group took a large first-quarter loss.

Advanced Turbine Engine Company LLC, a joint venture between Honeywell International Inc. and Pratt & Whitney, said Friday it was awarded a $108 million U.S. Army contract.

Aerospace and defense stocks gained ground in morning trading as the markets rose following reports of retail sales that were less gloomy than some had expected and fewer unemployment claims.

The senior vice president and general counsel of diversified manufacturer Honeywell International Inc. exercised options for and sold 25,000 shares of common stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Tuesday.

Honeywell International Inc. was awarded a $48.9 million contract by the U.S. Special Operations Command to supply engine maintenance and support services for engines used to power MH-47G Chinook helicopters, the Defense Department said late Tuesday.

To give investors an edge, CNBC asked the market experts for their best trades going into the weekend. 

Honeywell International Inc. said its board approved a quarterly cash dividend of 27.5 cents.

Shares of aerospace and defense companies are mixed in afternoon trading after the Federal Reserve cut two key interest rates.

Diversified technology company Honeywell International Inc. said Monday it will pay about $720 million in cash for data capture and collection hardware and software maker Metrologic Instruments Inc.

Investors will have seen enough corporate results by the end of the week to determine if the recent string of encouraging earnings was a real sign stocks can weather the credit crisis.

Stocks rallied Friday amid hope that the worst is over for financials and after solid earnings from multinationals.

Stocks soared Friday amid renewed hope that the worst is over for financials and solid earnings from the industrial and tech sectors.