NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Electric Co (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is looking to sell its appliance unit in an auction that could bring in $5 billion to $8 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported on its web site on Wednesday.

The company has hired Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) to advise on a possible sale, the Journal said,

(Editing by Gary Hill)