Stocks Opened Lower; McDonald’s Sales Disappointed

U.S. stocks opened slightly lower on Monday, as investors assessed downbeat economic reports from China and Europe, while oil prices continued to fall. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately lost 13.45 points, or 0.07%, to 17,945.34. The S&P 500 was down 1.51 points, or 0.07%, to 2,073.86. The Nasdaq Composite was up 4.96 points, or 0.07%, to 4785.71.

McDonald’s Corp (MCD) reported a steeper-than-expected fall in global same-restaurant sales in November and said current-quarter results would be hurt by the after-effects of a supplier scandal in China and a stronger dollar.Worldwide sales at restaurants open at least 13 months fell 2.2 percent in November.

ECB policymaker Ewald Nowotny’s warning of a “massive weakening” of the economy followed a rating downgrade in the bloc’s third largest economy Italy, buoying bond markets as investors positioned for a fresh round of central bank stimulus.

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. on Monday offered earnings guidance near the higher end of analysts’ expectations as the medical-device maker expects continued sales growth of its heart valves. The company said it expects to post per-share earnings of $3.90 to $4.10 in 2015.