Google (GOOG) Searches On the Rise

Markets were up on Wednesday as Congress prepares to vote on whether or not to suspend the enforcement of the country’s $16.4 trillion debt limit for three months. If this passes, it will give Congress more time to figure out a new budget plan. There is an added provision to the vote today called “no budget, no pay.” This means that if the Senate does not devise and execute a new budget plan than they face a suspension of pay. Republican House Speaker John Boehner said “Over the last four years House Republicans have offered plans – our budget plans – we’ve done our budgets, but it’s been nearly four years since the Senate has done a budget. Most Americans believe you don’t do your job, you shouldn’t get paid, and that’s the basis for no budget, no pay. It’s time for the Senate to act.”

Boeing (BA) continues to deal with the backlash that evolved from the overheated battery during a flight earlier this month that resulted in a grounding of all 50 787′s. Some experts suspected that the lithium ion battery was overcharged causing the drop in voltage, however Japanese transport safety officials said this was not the case. Norihiro Goto, chairman of the Japan Transport Safety Board said that the Dreamliner’s data recorder showed the main battery did not exceed its maximum voltage. Which opposed what earlier reports stated. He said that the maximum volts recorded was 31 and below the 32 volt limit. However the data did show a sharp and sudden drop in volts while the plane was in flight. Most jets do not use the lithium ion battery that is used in the 787. The Transport Safety Board said they will study the aircraft’s auxiliary battery next.

McDonald (MCD) produced higher profits in the fourth-quarter with help from their Dollar Menu and the McRib, however the company did warn that sales figures are expected to drop this month. The company is facing greater competition from competitors like Burger King and Taco Bell with revamped menus. Consumers are also starting to head to chains like Chipotle and Panera with higher quality food. McDonald’s has placed more focus on their Dollar Menu in the recent months and stayed open on Christmas. Fourth-quarter profits were up a mere 0.1% globally and up 0.3% in the U.S. However, in Europe it was down 0.6% as the number of people walking through their doors dropped. Figures also dropped 1.7% in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. McDonald’s said it earned $1.4 billion, or $1.38 per share, in the fourth-quarter. This is up from $1.38 billion, or $1.33 per share, last year.

Google (GOOG) was trading up over 6.45% on Wednesday as the company announced there was an improvement in their core search business in the fourth-quarter. The company said that its average cost-per-click declined only 6%, compared to the 15% drop in the previous quarter. Doug Anmuth, a J.P. Morgan Securities analysts, said “As the business continues to shift toward mobile and advertisers think holistically about clicks rather than about which devices they’re coming from… the Street will as well.”