McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) stated that domestic sales open at least 13 months dropped 0.1 percent last month, as the company’s Dollar Menu items and McCafe coffee drinks could not drive cash-strapped diners to spend more. Same-store sales jumped 6.4 percent in Europe, assisted by the U.K., France and Germany. Comparable sales advanced 4.7 percent in the company’s Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa segment, driven by Japan and Australia. -Reuters

Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) has made a 9.8 billion pound ($16.4 billion) cash and stock offer for British candy maker Cadbury (NYSE: CBY). Today’s hostile offer values each Cadbury share at 717 pence, lower than Kraft’s previous rebuffed approach of 745 pence. –Daily Finance

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) stated that “the credit crisis has abated,” bolstering the firm’s earnings potential after Warren Buffett agreed to pay $26 billion and take on debt to fund his biggest takeover yet. Improvements in the creditworthiness of domestic companies helped triple third-quarter profits and provided a cushion for Buffett in buying railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI). Berkshire made the comment on credit markets in the same filing, stating that “interest rates for investment grade issuers relative to government obligations have declined.” -Bloomberg

Moody’s Investors Service lifted its outlook for China and Hong Kong sovereign ratings, as well as those for a
number of banks in the region, adding that credit fundamentals will likely improve as the country emerges from the global recession. "The Chinese authorities are successfully steering the economy through the turbulence of the global financial crisis and recession, and furthermore, they seem likely to remain vigilant to protect systemic stability from future threats and challenges," said Tom Byrne, Moody’s Senior Vice President. The action may lead to an upgrade for China’s A1 foreign and local currency ratings, as well as its A1 country ceilings for foreign and local currency bank deposits, Moody’s stated. In a separate release, Moody’s also revealed that it was raising the credit outlook on Hong Kong’s Aa2 government bonds from stable to positive. –MarketWatch

U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open this morning, tracking gains in Asia and Europe on the Group of 20’s support for continued economic stimulus. Less than two hours before the start of trading, Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures were 85 points higher at 10,063. The S&P 500 futures gained 10.9 to 1077.10, and Nasdaq 100 futures rallied 17.25 to 1747. However, changes in futures do not always accurately predict early market moves after the opening bell. –The Wall Street Journal

-Jutia Group