GM shares were trading at $36.99 in midafternoon trading, up 10.2%. The company stood by its 2018 profit outlook of $5.80 to $6.20 a share, saying it should come in at the top of that range. That, along with the strong results in China, where new-car demand is cooling, offered relief to investors worried about GM’s ability to navigate a potential slowdown in global auto sales, analysts say. In a research note, Evercore ISI analyst George Galliers called it “a very healthy quarter in a far-from-straightforward operating environment.” GM said the buyout offers, which are voluntary, could eventually lead to layoffs. The company said it expects only a small percentage of those eligible to accept the offer. The offer is one of many “proactive steps” GM said it is taking as sales cool in two large markets—China and the U.S.—and as it combats rising tariff-related costs on steel and […]