McDonald's earnings up

OAK PARK, Ill., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Overseas markets have boosted McDonald's Corp. third-quarter earnings to 83 cents a share -- well above the 77 cents analysts had predicted.

September sales climbed 16.3 percent in Europe, while sales in the Asia-Pacific/Middle East market rose 20.4, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The Oak Brook, Ill.,-based fast food company estimates per-share earnings at 89 cents a share with the addition of a 6-cent one-time gain from the sale of its Boston Market division.

McDonald's global sales climbed 11.5 percent in September, adjusted to 7.2 percent for the conversion of foreign currencies. In the United States, sales grew by 3.5 percent last month, down from 7.1 percent a year ago.