McDonald Corp's fourth quarter profit rises

McDonald's Corp reported higher quarterly profit on Friday as strength in international markets offset its weakening US business, which is grappling with high unemployment and rampant discounting.                                           

The world's biggest hamburger chain said fourth-quarter profit was $1.22 billion, or $1.11 a share, up from $985.3 million, or 87 cents a share, a year earlier.                                           

Excluding one-time items, McDonald's earned $1.03 a share. On that basis, analysts' average forecast was $1.02, according to Thomson Reuters IBES.                                           
 

Revenue, which includes sales from company-owned restaurants plus fees like royalties from franchisees, rose 7% to $5.97 billion.                                           

Shares edged up 0.3% to $63.39 in pre-market trading.