US stocks are seen mixed and before the bell, McDonald's Corporation (NYSE:MCD), the global fastfood joint, saw shares ease 1.09% to US$157.38.
Health departments in Ilinois and Iowa are reportedly investigating outbreaks of a parasite that causes intestinal illness and might be linked to McDonald's salads.
llinois has reporting 90 cases of stomach illness since mid-May, while Iowa has 15 since late June.
First off, why y’all going to Mcdonalds for a salad? https://t.co/uBUhq1y84h
— Sean O'Pry (@Seanopry55) 13 July 2018
The parasite in question is the cyclospora and causes the illnesss as a result of contaminated food or water.
Elsewhere, AT&T Inc (NYSE:T) shares shed 1.46% to US$31.76 in before the bell trade.
The share slide comes as the Department of Justice officially filed for an appeal on the court ruling that allowed AT& T to acquire media and movie titan Time Warner Inc.
It sets up another potential legal showdown for the US$85.4bn merger, in what is one of the largest U.S. antitrust cases in decades.
Meanwhile, as earnings season gets underway, big banks are of course in focus, with JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) shares up 0.75% to US$107.65.
The investment bank titan reported better-than-expected second-quarter corporate and investment bank (CIB) revenue.
The bank has now had 11 quarterly total revenue beats in a row.
Total revenue was up 6% on a year ago to US$28.4bn and reported revenue came in at US$27.8bn, beating consensus of US$27.56bn.
Meanwhile, PNC Financial Services Group Inc (NYSE:PNC) is the first major regional bank to report second-quarter earnings. Its shares added 2% to US$140.75 in pre-market deals as it unveiled improved numbers.
Net profit was US$1.36bn, or US$2.72 per share, compared to US$1.09bn, or US$2.10per share in the same period last year.
Analysts had expected the company to earn US$2.58 per share, according to Thomson Reuters figures.