McDonald's January sales up 5.7%

McDonald's Corp. said Friday that global sales rose 5.7 percent in January, boosted by a stronger-than-expected showing in the U.S. and growth in Europe and Asia.

The report eased investor concerns about fallout from an economic slowdown and sent the company's shares up $1.18, or 2.2 percent, to $55.64, on the New York Stock Exchange. The shares were the second-biggest gainer in the 30-stock Dow Jones industrial average.