The US industrial giant told investors the wind decrease was the primary driver of a 5% year-on-year fall to $21.5bn in orders at its Infrastructure business segment.

The company booked orders for 241 turbines compared to 781 during the same period in 2011.

"It's a drag on us," chief financial officer Keith Sherin said, telling financial analysts that the decline in its wind turbine business was masking a robust performance by its other energy operations.

So