Boeing sees strong commercial plane sales

&to=http://english.pravda.ru/economics/2000/11/29/1185.html' target=_blank>Boeing Co. offered an upbeat forecast Wednesday for its quest to retake the world's top spot in commercial aviation from European rival Airbus SAS, citing a "very strong" outlook for airplane sales while upping its profit expectations for 2006.

The aerospace company's shares rose $3.31, or 4.9 percent, to close at $71.62 on the New York Stock Exchange, approaching its all-time high of $72.40 set in December.

Boeing said its fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled as its resurgent commercial airplane division boosted revenue and profit margins.