The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that Boeing said Tuesday it was making progress on increasing plane production and its shares jumped 6 per cent, despite the company recording its biggest annual loss in four years. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says the $11.8-billion (U.S.) loss, owing to problems at its major units, along with fallout from a crippling strike, demonstrates the challenges facing chief executive officer Kelly Ortberg in turning around the planemaker. It has ceded ground to rival Airbus in the delivery race and has suffered reputational damage following a series of missteps. Boeing's chief financial officer Brian West told analysts the planemaker had delivered 33 of its strongest-selling 737 jets so far in January. Mr. West added Boeing expects to be in a position later this year to exceed the cap of 38 a month imposed by U.S. regulators. Boeing needs the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration to raise 737 output above the cap. "We have a stable production system. ... And I expect by the second half of the year, we'll have that approval, and we'll be moving to a higher production rate," Mr. Ortberg said. Boeing's Canadian-traded shares closed Tuesday at $30.76, up 58 cents.