• McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD), reported August same-store-sales rose 2.2%, but noted US comps were up a less-than-expected 1.7%, noting rising unemployment levels and increased competition from price-cutting rivals hurt revenues
• Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) San Francisco event once again saw the shares move lower, this year off 1%, despite the welcome appearance of Jobs, and iPod price cuts and improvements. An 8 GB iPod Nano will include built-in video and an FM radio; price cuts of as much as $120 were made. This morning JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) upped its rating on Apple to “outperform” from “market perform,” with a $200 price target
• Texas Instruments (NYSE:TXN) raised its third quarter earnings and sales guidance, with third quarter guidance increased to 37 cents to 41 cents a share from prior range of 29 cents to 39 cents a share; revenues guidance was lifted to $2.73 billion to $2.87 billion from prior $2.5 billion to $2.8 billion, with estimates at $$2.68 billion
• Vivus (NASDAQ:VVUS) noted its experimental obesity drug showed dramatic results in two late-stage clinical trials
• Disney (NYSE:DIS) reported improvements in local ad markets with increased activity from automakers nationally, although still anticipating lower theme park hotel bookings for the September quarter
• Monsanto (NYSE:MON) said it continues to see 2009 results from continuing operations at the lower end of its prior guidance of $4.40-$4.50; the Street has expected $4.41. For 2010 the company expects $3.10-$3.30, off consensus estimates of $4.12
• Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO) shares were upgraded by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) to “buy,” with a price target hike to $19 from $17
• BP (NYSE:BP) shares were lowered to “neutral” by analysts at HSBC (NYSE:HBC). The company’s Tiber Field, last week’s “giant discovery” 9km beneath the Gulf seabed, is unofficially estimated to contain 500m-1 billion recoverable barrels of oil
