Market Minute: McDonald's Tests Family Meals; Apple to Debut New iPhones

McDonald's tries out a new family plan, and Apple investors prepare for the big rollout. Those stocks and more are what's in Tuesday's Market Minute.

The Dow Jones industrial average (^DJI) rallied 140 points Monday, moving back above 15,000. The Standard & Poor's 500 index (^GPSC) gained 16 and the Nasdaq composite index (^IXIC) jumped 46 points. The Nasdaq is at its highest level in 13 years, but still more than 16 percent below its all-time high.

A key measure of McDonald's (MCD) sales rose nearly two percent last month, topping expectations due to surprisingly strong results in Europe. Meanwhile, McDonald's is testing out a boxed meal designed for several hungry people. It includes two Quarter Pounders with cheese, two medium fries and 10 Chicken McNuggets. A trade publication says it's being tried out in the Kansas City area.

Shares of Apple (AAPL) have jumped more than 10 percent in the past month, in the run-up to today's media event. The company is expected to unveil two new iPhones, including a lower cost version aimed at opening up the saturated smartphone market to whole new set of potential buyers. But some investors are concerned the recent run-up in the stock price could lead to some selling after the news comes out. Apple moved back above $500 a share yesterday.

Verizon (VZ) is planning to finance a big chunk of its $130 billion acquisition of the part of Verizon Wireless owned by Vodaphone (VOD) by issuing bonds. By some estimates, it could be the largest corporate bond deal ever.

And that's not the only big corporate bond deal on tap. Tenet Healthcare (THC) reportedly plans to issue $4.6 billion in bond to help finance its purchase of Vanguard Health Systems (VHS).

Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack (PBY) might be in need of a tune-up. The auto-care company says its earnings tumbled by 84 percent from a year ago. But shares of discount retailer Five Below (FIVE) are set to rally after posting a better-than-expected quarterly profit.

-Produced by Drew Trachtenberg.

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