U.S. Stocks Open Steady and Mixed as Investors Digest Earnings

U.S. stocks opened steady Thursday as investors digest the busiest earnings day of the season with some 50 companies reporting. McDonald's (MCD) latest quarterly report shows a company still struggling to improve sales. The fast food chain did beat estimates but U.S. sales fell again. McDonald's is in the middle of a prolonged turnaround effort to reinvigorate the fast food giant. CEO Steve Easterbrook says he is trying to transform the restaurant chain into a 'modern, progressive burger chain.' 'Jurassic World' is now the 3rd higher grossing movie of all time. The Universal film has grossed $1.25 billion worldwide to surpass 'The Avengers' at the box office. 'Avatar' is still the highest grossing movie ever at $2.78 billion. Weekly jobless claims plunged by 26,000 last week to 255,000 which is the lowest level since 1973. General Motors (GM) profit gained this year as last year it was hurt by the faulty ignition switch recall. Caterpillar (CAT) cut guidance for the year.